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RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 



RAINY DAY 
DIVERSIONS 



BY 

CAROLYN WELLS 



New York 

MOFFAT, YARD & COMPANY 

1907 



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Copyright, 1907, by 
MOFFAT, YARD & COMPANY, NEW YORK 



Fuhii&hed August^ 190n 



CONTENTS 



PART ONE 

Uncle Bob^s Astonishing Tricks 

CHAPTER FAQB 

I, In which Uncle Bob mystifies Lucy and Fred 
with some of the strange properties of the 
figure nine 3 

II. In which Uncle Bob shows that the figure eleven 

is quite as mysterious as its brother nine 

III. In which Uncle Bob shows amazing familiarity 

with the affairs of a variety of figures 15 

IV. In which Uncle Bob mystifies a room full of 

children with his clever arithmetical puzzles 21 
V. In which Uncle Bob shows how easy it is to 

make figures perform mysteriously 29 

VI. In which Uncle Bob performs several magical 
tricks with figures that are much easier than 

they appear 34 

VII. In which Uncle Bob causes the children to add 
and multiply with some very surprising re- 
sults 41 

VIII. In which Uncle Bob utilizes dominoes and dice 

to the great mystification of the family 46 

IX. In which Uncle Bob apparently reads the faces 

of the dominoes through the back of his head 62 

[v] 



CONTENTS 

OHAFTEB PA6B 

X. In which Uncle Bob proves himself a real wizard 

in the manipulation of coins and checkers 58 

XI. In which Uncle Bob reads the dates on coins 

through Turkish rugs and big fat dictionaries 64 

XII. In which Uncle Bob taps playing cards with his 
pencil, which stops mysteriously always on 
the right card 70 

XIII. In which Uncle Bob looks out of the window 

and solves a card trick on the table behind 
him 76 

XIV. In which Uncle Bob does a mystifying card 

trick in three or four ways, and always suc- 
cessfully 83 

XV. In which Uncle Bob's card policeman arrests 
three Jacks, lets them escape and catches 
them again 89 

XVI. In which Uncle Bob performs a clever trick in 
mind reading and mind writing which amazes 
the children 96 

XVII. In which Uncle Bob declines an introduction 
and guesses the names of a whole room full 
of children 103 

XVIII. In which Uncle Bob, apparently by force of 
will power, influences Lucy to pick out the 
card he wishes 114 

XIX. In which Uncle Bob entertains Lucy and Fred 

with an improvised parlor menagerie 122 

XX. In which Uncle Bob proves himself all over 

again a most amusing parlor wizard 129 

XXI. In which Uncle Bob uses kindergarten balls and 
empty boxes for the performance of an amus- 
ing illusion 135 



CONTENTS 

CHAPTER PAGE 

XXII. In which Uncle Bob devises an art exhibition to 

raise funds for the new school building 141 

XXIII. In which Uncle Bob provides some valuable 

relics at very small cost 151 



PART TWO 

Holiday Amusements 

I. How to celebrate New Year's Day 169 

II. How to celebrate St. Valentine's Day 165 

III. How to celebrate Washington's Birthday 170 

IV. How to celebrate April Fool's Day 176 

V. How to celebrate Memorial Day 183 

VI. How to celebrate Arbor Day 188 

VII. How to celebrate the Fourth of July 194 

VIII. How to celebrate Thanksgiving Day 200 

IX. A peanut party for any day in the year 207 



PART THREE 
Children's Plays 

I. The day before Christmas 217 

II. A Substitute for Santa Clans 237 



[.Hi] 



PART ONE 
UNCLE BOB'S ASTONISHING TRICKS 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 



IN WHICH UNCLE BOB MYSTIFIES LUCY AND FRED 
WITH SOME OF THE STRANGE PROPERTIES OF 
THE FIGURE NINE. 

ALL of the family had a mathematical 
turn of mind, and when Uncle Bob 
came to visit them, and said that he 
knew a lot of tricks with numbers, 
they were all glad that it was a rainy afternoon, 
and they settled down in the cosy library for a 
first-rate time. 

Fred said he didn't believe Uncle Bob's tricks 
really were new, for they had scoured every book 
of arithmetical diversions ; and it would be pretty 
hard to find a catch or a quibble that was un- 
known to the Boylston children. 

Lucy privately agreed with her brother's opin- 
ion; but she sat with pad and pencil in hand, 
ready to give Uncle Bob the benefit of the doubt. 

[3] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

"Well," said that gentleman, "are you sure you| 
are familiar with all the peculiar powers of the 
number nine? If not, I'll show you something oi 
its erratic ways. Write down a row of numbers^ 
please." 

"How many, uncle?" asked Lucy. 

"It doesn't matter. Write as many as yoi 
like. You, too, Fred, may write down a row oi 
figures." 

The children did so, and Lucy showec 
876492315, while Fred showed only 835. 

"Now," said Uncle Bob, "I will add or pr( 
fix or insert as many figures as you desire m( 
to, in each of your lists, and the completed num- 
ber in each case shall be exactly divisible by 
nine." 

"Whew !" said Fred. "That's' a new one to 
me! Here, uncle, do mine first, will you? Add 
three figures at the end of the line, prefix two 
at the beginning and insert two between my eight 
and three." 

"All right, my boy," and Uncle Bob rapidly 
made the desired changes. Then Fred's line 
read 7282935351. 

[4] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

Quickly Fred divided the long line by nine, 
and when he found no remainder he stared at 
his uncle in undisguised astonishment. 

"Now do mine," cried Lucy. "I'll take four 
at the beginning, one alternated between each 
of mine, and one at the end." 

"Here you are, then," and Uncle Bob made 
Lucy's line read : 2313857462479324321554. 

It took Lucy some time to divide this by nine, 
but the result was satisfactory, and, too, the long 
line proved Uncle Bob's cleverness better than 
the short one. 

Several times they tried the game, but it al- 
ways came out right, and moreover, Uncle Bob 
set down his figures as fast as his pencil could 
fly over the paper. 

"I give it up," said Fred. "Tell us how you 
do it, uncle, won't you?" 

"Oh, such dabsters in mathematics as you 
are ought to puzzle out that simple little trick 
for yourselves. Instead, I'll show you another. 
Each of you choose a number of three or four 
or more figures and multiply it by nine. Do it 
on paper; don't trust to your mental process. 

[5] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

Well, Lucy, kow many figures are in your an- 
swer?" 

"Four figures. Uncle Bob." 

"Tell me any three of them, in their proper 
order, and I'll tell you the number you first se- 
lected." 

"The last three figures of my answer are 559." 

"Then you chose 951 in the first place." 

"Yes, I did! Oh, how can you tell?" 

"How many figures have you in your answer, 
Fred?" 

"Seven figures, uncle." 

"Tell me all but one, and say X for that one." 

"All right, I have 113x835." 

Uncle Bob jotted a few figures down on paper. 
In a moment he said: "Then you took 126315 
for your multiplicand." 

"Yes, I did," answered his nephew, looking 
thoughtfully ; "but I can't see how you know." 

"I've done another. Uncle Bob," cried Lucy, 
"and my answer has 198 for its first three figures. 
There are four figures in it altogether." 

"Ah, Lucy; you have struck the weak point of 
this trick. It is only a small one, but it prevents 

[6] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

my telling you the exact number you chose. It 
was, however, either 220 or 221." 

"Why, I think that's more wonderful than if 
you had guessed it outright," said Lucy. "How 
could you tell that?" 

"I will explain it all to you now. 

"The first trick I showed you is based on the 
fact that a number is divisible by nine if the 
sum of its digits is divisible by nine. Hence, to 
the number given, figures may be added, pre- 
fixed or inserted, if care is taken to make 
the whole sum of the digits a multiple of 
nine. 

"For the other trick, when all but one of the 
figures in the number are told, add them up, and 
subtract the sum from the next higher multiple 
of nine. The remainder will be the missing fig- 
ure for which X stood. Supply this, and divide 
by nine, using pencil and paper, if need be, and 
the quotient will be the original chosen num- 
ber. The weak point is when the chosen num- 
ber ends with a cipher, and the last figure of 
the result is the one represented by an X. For 
' —"-^ - f 130 be chosen, and you tell me that 
[7] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

117 are the first three figures of your, product, I 
cannot tell whether you chose 130 or 131. But 
verify that for yourself by experiment." 



rM 



II 



IN WHICH UNCLE BOB SHOWS THAT THE FIGURE 
ELEVEN IS QUITE AS MYSTERIOUS AS ITS 
BROTHiBR NINE. 



/ / 'W' T isn't exactly raining, Uncle Bob," said 

I Fred, "but it looks as if it might rain ; 

JL and so won't you show us another 

trick with numbers, like you did 

last week?" 

"Oh, Uncle Bob," pleaded Lucy. I had lots 
of fun puzzling the school-girls with that one 
about the nines. Isn't any other number as 



magical ^ i 


ne?" 


'^YriA 


I Uncle Bob. "I think eleven is 


just 


ig in its way. Shall I give you an 


exan 




uy 


d!" cried both. 


nsiance, ^ 


1 Uncle Bob, as they sat, with their 




[9] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

pencils poised expectantly above the paper, 
"each of you may set down a row of figures." 

"How many?" asked Lucy. 

"It doesn't matter. But leave room enough 
for me to write as many more alongside of them." 

So Lucy wrote 98361024, and Fred wrote 
7351869. 

"Now," said Uncle Bob, before he looked at 
their papers, "I'll add a lot more figures to each 
line, and then you'll find the whole row is exact- 
ly divisible by eleven. And I'll write my figures 
so fast that you may be sure I'm not dividing as 
I go along." 

Taking Lucy's paper, Uncle Bob added more 
figures to those she had already made; and so 
rapidly did his pencil fly that the children were 
sure he was jotting down figures at random, 
and not making any mental calculation as he 
wrote. In less time than it takes to tell it, 
Lucy's paper held this row of figures, 983610- 
2442016389. 

"Now, wait a minute, Lucy," said her uncle; 
"before you divide that by eleven, let me add 
some figures to Fred's row." 
[10] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

And with swift motions he added a lot of fig- 
ures to the row Fred had prepared, and it then 
read thus: 73518699681537. 

"Now, children, divide by eleven, and see if 
you have any remainder." 

Both divisions came out evenly, and Lucy 
clamored for Uncle Bob to tell how he knew what 
figures to write. But Fred looked thoughtful, 
and asked his uncle to try it again. "You only 
put figures at the right hand end of our lines, 
uncle," he said. "Can you add figures at both 
ends?" 

"Oh, certainly," said Uncle Bob, "anything to 
oblige." 

So Fred wrote : 92346. 

Uncle Bob seized the pencil, and quick as 
lightning he placed two figures before Fred's 
row and seven after it, and then the line stood 
thus: 57923466432975. 

"There you are, my boy," said Uncle Bob, 
and sure enough Fred divided it exactly by 
eleven. 

"I thought I saw through it, but I don't," he 
said. 

[11] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

"Perhaps I can make it clearer," said Uncle 
Bob. "Let's try it again." 

So Fred wrote 8340917, and Lucy wrote 
65432. 

"Now, Lucy," said her uncle, "I'll add as many 
figures as you say, and I'll put them at either 
end or at both ends." 

Lucy's eyes opened wide in amazement, but 
she said: "Very well, uncle, put two figures 
before my row, and three after it." 

"All right, here you are," and Lucy's row soon 
read: 3765432396, which of course was exactly 
divisible by eleven. 

Fred noticed that Uncle Bob didn't write his 
figures this time so rapidly as he had done be- 
fore, and hoping to make it even more difficult 
for him, he said: "Uncle, can you add figures 
to my row at each end and in the middle too?" 

"Just as easy as not," responded his uncle. 
"Where will you have them?" 

"Well," said Fred, feeling sure he had caught 
Uncle Bob this time, "I'll take one at each end 
of my row, one each side of the cipher, and three 
between the nine and the one." 
[12] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

"With pleasure," said Uncle Bob, and he re- 
wrote Fred's row in accordance with his speci- 
fications. Then it read thus : 68346019346176. 

"Yes," said Fred, as he drew a long breath, 
"eleven goes into that without any remainder. 
Oh, do explain it to us. Uncle Bob." 

So Uncle Bob told the children how to do 
it, and like most other puzzles it is easy enough 
when known. 

At first, that is, when Uncle Bob wrote the 
figures so swiftly, he merely repeated the figures 
already written, but in reverse order; for any 
number containing an even number of figures 
which reads the same backward or forward is 
exactly divisible by eleven. Thus, Uncle Bob 
could add a few figures at the beginning of the 
row, and then, starting at the other end of the 
row jot down rapidly the whole lot, reversed. 
The process of adding or inserting figures where- 
ever. requested is slower work, as calculations 
must be made. The principle is that a row of 
figures, no matter how long, is divisible by 
eleven if the sums of its alternate digits are 
equal. That is, if the sum of its first, third, 
[13] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

fifth, seventh, etc., figures equals the sum of its 
second, fourth, sixth, eighth, etc., figures. 

Hence, in a given row of figures, add up the 
alternate ones, and supply such as are neces- 
sary, taking care that the sum of the odd ones 
equals the sum of the even ones in the final 
result. 

By this, we do not mean the odd or even num- 
bers, but the figures occupying the odd or even 
places in the row. In practising this game, it 
is much easier to add the necessary figures at 
one's own discretion; but it is more mystifying 
to the beholders to put the new figures in places 
designated by them. 



[14] 



Ill 



IN WHICH UNCLE BOB SHOWS AN AMAZING FAMIL- 
IARITY WITH THE AFFAIRS OF A VARIETY OF 
FIGURES. 

^ ^ "^ TOW, Uncle Bob," said Lucy, "I have 

^L I a new pencil and a whole new pad 

JL ^ of paper, and if you please, I'd 

like a new puzzle/' 

"Very well, then," said Uncle Bob, "do just 

as I tell you. You and Fred each write on your 

paper a row of figures." 

So Lucy wrote 8, 6, 3, 2, 1, 4 ; and Fred wrote 
4, 3, 7, 9, 8, 6, 1, 4. 

"Now, then," went on Uncle Bob, "add up 
those digits in your head, and subtract the sum 
from your original number." 

So Lucy added up her digits, and found they 
came to 24. Subtracting this from her original 
number, she had left 863,190 ; while Fred, whose 
[ 15 ] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

digits added up to 42, subtracted, and had a 
remainder of 43,798,572. 

"Now strike out one figure from your an- 
swer,'' said Uncle Bob, "and write on another 
slip of paper your answer with that figure 
omitted." 

In a moment Lucy had struck out the figure 
6 and handed her uncle the slip of paper, on 
which was written 83,190. 

After a brief glance at it, Uncle Bob said 
quietly, "You struck out the figure 6." 

"So I did!" said Lucy, opening her eyes in 
amazement. 

Meantime Fred had struck 8 out of his answer, 
and offered for his uncle's inspection the figures 
4,379,572. 

"You crossed off 8," said Uncle Bob. 

"I did so," said Fred. "Please try it again." 

So they tried it again, and this time when the 
children were about to present their lines of 
figures to him for inspection, Uncle Bob said, 
"You may write the lines of figures as you have 
them, or you may write them backward, and you 
need not tell me which." 
[16] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

Lucy reversed her line of figures and gave it 
to her uncle ; but Fred gave his just as he had it 
on his own paper. 

It seemed to make no difference ; for Uncle Bob 
told them instantly what figures they had crossed 
out. 

Then they tried it a third time, and, to puzzle 
them still further. Uncle Bob told them that 
they might jumble their figures all up, and, as 
long as they kept the real figures they had, they 
might offer them to him in any rotation. 

This time Lucy's original row had read 9, 2, 
3, 6, 4, 8, 1. 

The sum of these digits was 33, and conse- 
quently, after subtracting, she had 9,236,448. 
She struck out one of the 4's and mixed up the 
others, so that they stood 863,942. This row 
she handed to her uncle, who immediately told 
her that she had crossed off a 4. 

Fred had taken a short number this time. He 
had put down only 6, 3, 2, 1, 4. These digits 
amounted to 16. After subtracting, he had re- 
maining 63,198. He crossed out the 9, and, mix- 
ing up the others, gave his uncle the row, 1,683. 
[17] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

Uncle Bob looked at it abstractedly. Then 
he closed his eyes. "I seem to see a floating 
in the air/' he said. "I think, my boy, you 
crossed off a 0.'' 

"No, sir!" cried Fred triumphantly. 

"Ah, wait," said his uncle placidly; "I spoke 
too hastily. I see there is a tail to the which 
had escaped my notice. It was a 9." 

"Yes, sir, I did," said Fred, laughing. "Please 
tell us how to do it." 

"I wish for once you children would guess a 
puzzle yourselves," said Uncle Bob; "but I sup- 
pose you never will, so I'll tell you. It's really 
very simply when you know how. 

"Well," he continued, "after the line is writ- 
ten down, and the sum of its digits subtracted, 
and a single figure crossed off, you have a row 
of figures handed to you. You must mentally 
add these and subtract their sum from the next 
multiple of 9. That sounds complicated; but it 
is not at all. If the sum of the figures given 
you adds up to 23, the next multiple of 9 is 27, 
an4 the number you're in search of is 4. If the 
row of figures adds up to 39, the number struck 
[18] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

out was 6, because that added to 39 makes 45, 
which is the next multiple of 9. Do you under- 
stand?" 

"Yes," said Lucy, wrinkling her forehead ; "you 
just add the figures given you, and subtract that 
sum from whatever comes next higher in your 
'nine times' multiplication table." 

"That's right," said her uncle, "and the only 
time the rule won't work is when the number 
crossed out is either a 9 or a 0. As you 
can see for yourselves, if the digits added 
up to 45, you w^ouldn't know whether a 9 
or a had been crossed out, because either 
of those added to 45 would result in the multi- 
ple of 9." 

"Oh," said Fred, "that's why you made up that 
yarn about the tail to the 0." 

"Yes," said Uncle Bob, "and though you may 
work that little ruse once, if you are cornered a 
second time it is better to own up frankly that 
it was either a 9 or a 0, and you don't know 
which. Never act as if you were adding the 
figures or calculating a result. The charm -of 
all these tricks is to appear to be using a sort 
[19] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

of clairvoyance or second sight. This impresses 
your audience much more than a mere arith- 
metical calculation." 



[20] 



IV 



IN WHICH UNCLE BOB MYSTIFIES A ROOMFUL OF 
CHILDREN WITH HIS CLEVER ARITHMETICAL 
PUZZLES. 

UNCLE BOB sat down for a few moments 
to give the children another mathemat- 
ical puzzle. 

"Put down the numbers," he said, 
"in their right order, 1, 2, 3, etc., right along 
as far as you choose, up to 8. Stop anywhere 
you like before 8; but don't go past it." 

So Lucy wrote, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. And Fred 
wrote, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. 

"Now," said Uncle Bob, "I also shall write 
the same way. I don't mind telling you where 
I stop. I shall write 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. Now we 
shall each multiply our line of figures by 9, and 
after that add to it the figure which would have 
[21] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

come next to it if we had made our first line 
longer. That is, if you stopped at 4, your num- 
ber to add would be 5 ; if you stopped at 8, add 
9. Now set to work, and we shall see who'll 
finish first." 

In about three seconds, Uncle Bob said, "I 
have my answer. Have you yours?" 

Lucy and Fred looked up in amazement; for 
they had scarcely begun to multiply. But after 
a time they announced that they had finished, 
and without looking at their figures, Uncle Bob 
said, as if in surprise, "Why, we all have the 
same answers." 

"But you haven't seen ours !" cried Lucy. 

"That is true, and yet I am sure we all have 
the same answers. My answer is just a string 
of I's, and it reads 11,111,111." 

"Why, mine is all I's too," said Lucy; "but 
I have 9 I's in mine. It is 111,111,111." 

"Mine is all I's too," said Fred; "I have 111,- 
111. What a curious coincidence! Please ex- 
plain it, uncle." 

"The explanation is," said Uncle Bob, "that 
if you set down the digits in order, using any 
[22] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

number of them from 1 to 8, and if you multiply 
that line of figures by 9, and then add to it the 
number which rightly followed the last figure 
you wrote in your first line, the result will al- 
ways be as many I's as are represented by the 
figure you added. 

"Another variation, or rather a similar kind 
of computation, is this,'' said Uncle Bob : "Each 
of you write figures as before, from 1 straight 
ahead up to 9, and including it if you wish 
to, this time, or stop sooner, just as you 
like." 

This time Lucy wrote the figures all the way 
from 1 to 9, while Fred wrote only 1, 2, 3. 

"Now," said Uncle Bob, "multiply by 8, and 
then add the last figure of your row above." 

The children did this as rapidly as they could, 
although they felt sure that Uncle Bob had some 
short cut to the answer. And sure enough, when 
they were finished, he asked Lucy the first figure 
in her answer. 

"Nine," she replied. 

"Then," said Uncle Bob, "your whole answer 
is 987,654,321." 

[23] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

"Why, so it is !" said Lucy, as she verified her 
uncle's statement. 

"How many figures in your answer, Fred?" 
was Uncle Bob's next question. 

"Three," replied the boy. 

"Then your answer is 987." 

"Yes, it is," said Fred. 

"You see," said Uncle Bob, explaining at once, 
"if you take a straight ahead row of figures stop- 
ping at 9, or any number before 9, and if you 
multiply them by 8 and add whatever figure 
you have at the right hand end of your first 
line, your answer will inevitably be the digits 
in reverse order; beginning with 9 and go- 
ing backward as many figures as you have 
figures in your first row. That is, if you 
start out with 1, 2, 3, 4, multiply by 8 and add 
4, your answer will be 9,876. But if you 
have six figures in your first line and proceed 
the same, your answer will be 987,654. Do you 
see?" 

"Yes," said Lucy, "I think I see. It's a little 
complicated; but it's a nice one." 

"If you study it over a little bit," said Uncle 
[24] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

Bob, "it won't seem so complicated, and it really 
is a remarkable coincidence." 

Just as Uncle Bob had finished the explanation 
of these arithmetical tricks the door bell was 
heard, and three or four of the children's young 
friends arrived to spend the afternoon. So, tak- 
ing a plain gold ring from his finger. Uncle Bob 
announced that he would show them one of the 
arithmetical tricks. 

He then directed that Lucy and Fred and all 
their guests should sit in a straight row, and 
should be numbered 1, 2, 3, etc., the length of 
the line. He then said that in considering their 
hands, on any one of which the ring might be 
placed, they must count the thumb number 1, 
the forefinger number 2, the third finger number 
3, etc. ; also the right hand was to be called num- 
ber 1, and the left hand number 2. The joints of 
the fingers must also be numbered; the joints 
nearest the extremity being numbered 1, the next 
2, etc. 

Uncle Bob then directed that the ring should 
be put on any joint of any finger and hand of 
any person in the row they chose, and should 
[25] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

remain there, all the persons keeping their hands 
carefully hidden. 

"Now/' said Uncle Bob, "this mental arith- 
metic may be a little difficult; but if you do it 
slowly and carefully, you will have no trouble. 
You all know, do you not, the number of the 
person who has the ring?" 

To this all the children said, "Yes," and they 
also asserted that they knew the numbers of the 
hand, finger, and joint. 

"Very well," said Uncle Bob. "Now each of 
you, in your mind, take the number of the per- 
son who has the ring." 

As the ring was on the hand of the fourth 
person, each of the children thought of four. 

"Double it," said Uncle Bob, and all of the 
young arithmetical minds thought 8. 

"Add 5," was the next direction, and of course 
the result was 13. 

"Multiply by 5," came next, and they arrived 
at 65, without much trouble. 

"Add 10," said Uncle Bob, and 75 was the re- 
sult. 

"Now add the number denoting the hand." 
[26] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

As it was the left hand, they all added two, 
making 77. 

"Multiply by 10,'' gave 770. 

Adding the number of the finger, which was 
1, made 771, and then again came the order, 
"Multiply by 10." 

This made 7,710, and when told to add the 
number of the joint, which was the second, they 
had 7,712. 

"Now," said Uncle Bob, "this is the last. To 
what you now have add 35 and tell me your 
answer." 

With a sigh of relief, the children cried in con- 
cert, "7,747." 

"Then," said Uncle Bob, "your ring is on 
the second joint of the thumb of the left 
hand of the child who sits number four in the 
line." 

This proved to be exactly right, and though 
Uncle Bob would not explain it to the company, 
he afterwards told Lucy and Fred the secret, 
which was simply this : 

In all cases deduct 3,535 from the answer 
given you, and the four figures remaining will 
[27] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

represent in order, first the person, then the hand, 
then the finger, and then the joint. 

"You told me," he said, "that your arithmetical 
result was 7,747. And so, subtracting 3,535, I 
had left 4,212, which meant the fourth person, 
left hand, the thumb, and the second joint." 



[28] 



IN WHICH UNCLE BOB SHOWS HOW EASY IT IS TO 
MAKE FIGURES PERFORM MYSTERIOUSLY ; ALSO 
HOW TO RAISE A LAUGH IN A MOMENT. 

/ / "^ y OW, Uncle Bob," said Fred, "won't 
I^lI you give us some more arith- 
A. ^ metieal tricks?" 

"Certainly Fred, you've only to 
ask for what you want. Get your pencils and 
pads." 

"Can we each do it at once?" asked Lucy. 
"You can; but it's more confusing. Suppose 
"you try it together. Choose a number, write 
it down and tell me if its odd or even." 

So Fred wrote nineteen, while Lucy looked 
over his shoulder. 

"Now triple it," said Uncle Bob, "and divide 
it by two; but wait," he said. "You have an 
[29] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

odd number, haven't you? Well, add one to it, 
and then divide it by two.'' 

Fred did as he was told, with the result twenty- 
nine, though, of course, only he and Lucy knew 
this. 

"Now multiply by three; divide by nine, and 
tell me the quotient — don't mind any remainder 
there may be." 

"The quotient, not counting the remainder, is 
nine," said Lucy. 

"Then your original number was nineteen." 

"That's the sort of game I like," declared Fred. 
"Show us how to do it, please, uncle." 

"Well, try it once more with an even number." 

This time Lucy wrote twenty-six. 

"Now triple it, halve it and triple again. Now 
how many times will nine go into your result, 
not counting a remainder? 

"Thirteeen times." 

"Then you chose twenty-six." 

"We surely did!" exclaimed Fred. "Tell us 
how." 

"Well," said Uncle Bob, "when you do this 
trick, you must always direct that the chosen 
[30] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

number be multiplied by three. Then, if the 
chosen number was even, direct next that it be 
divided by two. But if the chosen number was 
odd, direct to add one and then divide by two. 
After this, in any case, direct to multiply by three 
again, and then to divide by nine. Then ask the 
answer, not counting a remainder. Whatever 
the answer is, double it mentally, and if the 
original number chosen was even, you will have 
it. If odd, add one to your mental result, and 
announce it. 

"Here's another variation of the same trick. 
Write down two consecutive numbers, like seven 
and eight, or twenty-four and twenty-five." 

Fred wrote twelve and thirteen. 

"Now square each number, and subtract one 
square from the other." 

So Fred subtracted one hundred and forty- 
four from one hundred and sixty-nine, and an- 
nounced that his answer was twenty-five. 

"Then you chose twelve and thirteen," re- 
marked Uncle Bob. 

"That's a neat one," said Fred admiringly. "I 
like that kind." 

[31] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

"It's an easy one," said his uncle. "After your 
friend squares two consecutive numbers and tells 
you the difference between the squares, you have 
only to divide the number he tells you by two. 
There will always be a remainder of one, and the 
quotient will be one of the numbers you seek, and 
the quotient plus one the other. For instance, 
you told me your answer was twenty-five. Two 
goes into twenty-five twelve times and one re- 
mainder. So twelve was one of your numbers 
chosen, and twelve, plus one, the other." 

"Those arithmetical ones are clever," said 
Lucy ; "but they dizzy my head. Do show us one 
of those tricks that fool people." 

"Well, here's one of your sort then," said Uncle 
Bob. "See, I have here a dime and a nickel." He 
laid them on the table in front of him, as he sat 
opposite the two children, and pushed back his 
coat sleeves and cuffs. 

"I want you to see that I have nothing con- 
cealed in my sleeves," he went on. "This is a 
fair, genuine trick. You may watch as closely 
as you like. Now, you see, I take the dime in 
my right hand and the nickel in my left, and 
[32] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

close my hands tight — so." Uncle Bob laid his 
clenched fists on the table before him, about two 
feet apart. 

"Now," he said, "I purpose to make those two 
coins change places, without opening my hands 
or allowing my hands to touch each other. Watch 
closely, and when I say ^Fly!' you will see the 
dime where the nickel now is, and the nickel in 
the dime's place, yet my hands will remain 
tightly shut." 

The children stared with wide-open eyes. 
Uncle Bob said : "Fly !" in a stern voice, and then 
what do you suppose that man did? Merely 
crossed his arms one over the other, thus bringing 
his right hand to the place his left had occupied, 
and vice versa. 

The children could not deny that the dime 
was now in the place where the nickel had been, 
and the nickel in the dime's place, and they 
laughed heartily at the sell. 



[33] 



VI 



IN WHICH UNCLE BOB PERFORMS SEVERAL MAGICAL 
TRICKS WITH FIGURES THAT ARE MUCH EASIER 
THAN THEY APPEAR. 



I 



/ / ^T T'S raining !'' cried Lucy, in tones which, 
one would expect from the discoverer 
of a new gold mine. "Now, Uncle 
Bob, it's the very day for puzzles, and 
if you please I choose mathematical ones." 

"Well, I do know one more," said Uncle Bob. 
"Lucy, you may write three figures on your 
paper." 

Obediently Lucy wrote down 8, 3, 4, taking 
care that her uncle should not see them. 

"Now under that write another line of three 
figures." 

So under the 8, 3, 4, Lucy wrote 2, 9, 6. 
"Now pass the paper to Fred, and, Fred, you 
[34] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

may write two more rows under Lucy's two 
rows.'' 

So Fred wrote two more rows of tliree figures 
each, and the sum now stood thus: 

834 
296 
165 
703 

"Don't let me see them," cautioned Uncle Bob. 
"Fold the paper, to be sure." 

So Lucy folded the paper and laid it under 
a book. 

"It's real magic this time," said Uncle Bob, 
"and you must sit very still until those numbers 
fix themselves clearly in my brain, and I can 
add them up." 

Lucy gazed, fascinated, at her uncle, and he 
stared straight at her, until after a few mo- 
ments, he said, "Lucy, get up and walk over to 
that small mirror that hangs by the window." 

Lucy did as she was told, and found herself 
looking into an oval mirror not much larger than 
her own chubby face. 

[35] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

"Now," said her uncle, still in a mysterious 
whisper, "breathe slowly but firmly on the look- 
ing glass." 

Greatly mystified, Lucy breathed on the glass, 
when to her surprise some figures instantly ap- 
peared upon the smooth surface. The figures 
were 1,998. 

"Where did they come from?" cried Lucy, her 
eyes wide with wonder. 

"It's the answer to your sum," said her uncle. 
"If you'll pull out your paper from under the 
book and add the figures yourself, I think you 
will find it correct." 

Trembling with excitement, Lucy pulled the 
paper from beneath the book, and, adding up the 
figures, found that, sure enough, the total was 
1,998. 

With comical looks of amazement, she glanced 
back and forth from the figures on the mirror 
to those on the paper. "This beats all your other 
tricks, uncle," she said. "Please show me how 
to do it." 

Lucy sat still and tried the amazing experi- 
ment again. 

[36] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

This time her uncle told her to write three 
rows of three figures each, under one another, 
bidding Fred write three more rows under hers. 
So Lucy wrote three rows, and Fred added three 
rows, with this result; ^ 

861 
243 
987 
138 
756 
012 

"Don't add them yet," said her uncle; "but 
fold the paper, that I may not see it." 

Again Lucy folded the paper and put it under 
a book, while her uncle sat seemingly lost in 
thought. At last he said: "Go to the book 
shelf, Lucy, and take down that copy of ^Robin- 
son Crusoe,' and open it at page 100." 

Lucy did so, and found in the book at the 
page mentioned a slip of paper, bearing the fig- 
ures 2,997. With a shriek of delight, she ran 
back for her own paper, added up the figures, 
and the sum was exactly 2,997. 
[37] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

"We'll try once again/' said Uncle Bob ; "and 
all of us take a hand in it. Here, I'll write one 
line myself." 

Taking the pencil, Uncle Bob wrote rapidly, 
6,234,863. Passing the paper to Lucy, he bade 
her write a row beneath it. So under Uncle 
Bob's figures, Lucy wrote 3,128,491. 

"Your turn next, Fred," said Uncle Bob, and 
under the other lines Fred wrote 6,871,508. 

"Fold it up quickly," said Uncle Bob, "and 
put it under a book, that none of us may see 
it." 

Lucy did so, and waited breathlessly for a 
magical answer to appear from somewhere. 

"I can't do this sum," said Uncle Bob. "You'll 
have to find the answer yourself, Lucy." 

"I?" said Lucy. "Where can I find it without 
looking at the paper?" 

"Look in your pocket?" said her uncle. "Don't 
pretend you haven't it hidden in your pocket!" 

Bewildered, Lucy thrust her hand into her 

pocket, and felt there a folded paper. Drawing 

it out and unfolding it, she found it contained 

the figures, 16,234,862, this proved to be the cor- 

[38] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

rect sum of the rows of figures on the paper be- 
neath the book. 

Then Uncle Bob made his explanation, which 
was in part a confession. "I had a confederate," 
he said; "Fred is in the secret." 

"I don't care," said Lucy. "I like tricks with 
confederates just as well as without." 

"Well," said her uncle, "in the first case, when 
you put down two rows of figures, and Fred put 
two rows beneath them, he was careful to write 
such figures in each of his rows as would make 
all nines when added to those in your row. That 
is, to match your 834 he wrote 165, and to match 
your 296 he wrote 703, in each case writing the 
figure that would make 9 when added to the one 
above it. Therefore, one of your rows and one 
of his would make 999, and the other two would 
make 999, or 1,998 in all. Now, as I knew this 
sum would be 1,998, I had it already inscribed 
on the looking glass." 

"How did you do it?" demanded Lucy. 

"Oh, that's a simple matter. If you write any- 
thing on a mirror with a piece of French chalk, 
and then lightly wipe it off with a silk handker- 
[39] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

chief, it will not show until somebody breathes 
upon it, which you obligingly did. 

"The next test was the same, except that you 
wrote three rows of figures, making the pairs 
come to 9 as before. This, of course, amounted 
to 2,997, and as I knew it would be so, I had the 
paper prepared and placed in ^Kobinson Crusoe' 
before you came home from school. 

The last was merely another variation of the 
same trick. I wrote a row of figures, you wrote a 
row under it, and Fred wrote a row beneath that, 
being careful that each of his figures should make 
9 when added to the one aboye it. The inevitable 
answer to a sum thus written is the top row of 
figures preceded by a one, and having had one 
deducted from the figure on the extreme right. 
So, as I had written 6,234,863, I knew that after 
the combinations of 9's being written below it 
the final result must be 16,234,862. I had this 
written on a folded paper and Fred kindly 
placed it in your pocket when you weren't look- 
ing. Now I have told you all about it." 



[40 J 



VII 



IN WHICH UNCLE BOB CAUSES THE CHILDREN TO 
ADD AND MULTIPLY WITH SOME VERY SUR- 
PRISING RESULTS. 

^^'Y TNCLE BOB," said Lucy, "don^t you 
I I know any more of those tricks 
^^^^ with numbers — ^just mental puz- 
zles?" 
"Why, yes, Lucy, I know several that I haven't 
yet told you about. Will you have one now?" 
"Yes, indeed!" cried Lucy and Fred. 
"Here it is, then. You don't need pencil or 
paper, but you must keep your wits at work and 
be careful." 

"Can we both do the trick at once?" 
"Yes, if you have a slate or paper so that you 
can tell each other what figures to use, without 
my knowledge." 

[41] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

In a moment Fred had procured a paper pad, 
and the game began. 

"Select a number," said Uncle Bob. 

So Fred wrote down eight. 

"Now multiply it by three." 

Fred wrote twenty-four under the eight. 

"Now, to your result add one, or subtract one 
from it, I don^t care which." 

"You choose," said Lucy to Fred, so Fred chose 
to subtract, and he wrote twenty-three under 
the twenty-four. 

"Multiply again by three," proceeded Uncle 
Bob, and down went sixty-nine. 

"Now add the number you first thought of, 
and tell me your result." 

"Seventy-seven," announced Lucy quickly. 

"Then," said her uncle, smiling, "you chose 
eight." 

"That's a good one!" exclaimed Fred. "It's 
better than others of the same kind, because you 
let us add or subtract as we chose." 

"Yes, and that time you chose to subtract," 
said Uncle Bob, smiling. 

"Why, how did you know?" cried Lucy. 
[42] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

"Oh, that's part of the game. Now try it 
again." 

So again they tried it. This time they chose 
thirteen. Multiplying it by three gave them 
thirty-nine. They decided to add one this time, 
and then had forty. 

Then, again multiplying by three, and adding 
the original thirteen, the final result was one 
hundred and thirty-three. 

"Then," said Uncle Bob, without hesitation, 
"you chose thirteen." 

"Did we add or subtract one?" demanded Fred. 

"You added," said his uncle, and then both 
children begged for an explanation. 

"Instead of telling you how to do that, I'll 
show you another," said Uncle Bob, teasingly. 
"Here is a sum we'll all try at once, and see who 
can accomplish it first. Get your pencils ready. 
Now: Add one and two and three and four and 
five and six, and so on — all the numbers up to 
fifty." 

The pencils of the two children fairly flew, but 
in a few seconds Uncle Bob said: 

"I have the sum finished, have you?" 
[43] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

"Why/' cried Fred, "I haven't written down 
half the figures yet, let alone add them." 

Lucy stared at her uncle in blank amaze- 
ment. "Are you an adding machine?'' she 
asked. 

"Well, I'm not a dangerous adder," he replied. 
"My answer is twelve hundred and seventy-five, 
which is correct. I couldn't add a column of 
mixed-up figures so quickly; but I'll tell you 
how to add any list of consecutive numbers that 
begins with one. All you have to do is to multi- 
ply one-half of the last number by the last num- 
ber plus one. Thus, in adding all the consecu- 
tive numbers from one to fifty, merely multiply 
twenty-five by fifty-one. That gives you twelve 
hundred and seventy-five." 

"Yes, but suppose it's an odd number you have 
to take half of. Can you add all the numbers 
from one to seventy-three that way?" 

"Why, certainly. Half of seventy-three is 
thirty-six and one-half. One more than seventy- 
three is seventy-four. So multiply thirty-six and 
one-half by seventy-four, and your result is twen- 
ty-seven hundred and one." 
[44] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

"Now," said Fred, "please tell us how you 
did the other trick." 

"All right, my boy. If your victim has added 
one, his answer will end with a figure three. In 
this case you must mentally subtract that three 
and divide the remainder by ten, which will give 
you the original number. For instance, if he 
tells you his answer is eighty-three, just take 
off the three, divide eighty by ten and tell him 
he chose eight to start with. But, on the other 
hand, if he subtracted one, his answer will end 
in a figure seven. Then you must add three and 
divide by ten. If he tells you his final result is 
forty-seven you can safely say, ^Ah, you added 
one, did you?' and by that time you can have 
mentally added three to forty-seven and divided 
fifty by ten, with the result of five, which you 
may tell him was his first number." 



[45] 



VIII 

IN WHICH UNCLE BOB UTILIZES DOMINOES AND DICE 
TO THE GREAT MYSTIFICATION OF THE FAMILY. 



o 



/ / >^— ^ H, goody !" cried Lucy, coining in 
from school and flinging her books 
on the table. "It's a rainy after- 
noon, and I'm going to coax Uncle 
Bob to show us a new trick." 

"It's pouring pitchforks/' supplemented Fred, 
"and Uncle Bob, you'll just have to play with 
us!" 

Uncle Bob was entirely willing to amuse his 
young relatives. "Have you a box of dominoes?" 
he inquired. 

"Why, yes, uncle," replied Lucy, looking dis- 
appointed ; "but I don't want to play dominoes ; 
I meant for you to show us one of those puzzling 
tricks, that you seem to know so many of." 
[46] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

"There are more tricks in a box of dominoes, 
Lucy, than are dreamed of in your philosophy. 
At any rate, let's see if we can't find some fun 
in them." 

Then Uncle Bob tossed the dominoes out on 
the table, turned them all black side up, and 
shuffled them well. "Now, Lucy and Fred, you 
may each select a domino; pick it up, look at it, 
and show it to each other, but don't let me see 
it." 

The children did so. Lucy chanced to pick up 
the three-five, and Fred took the four-one. After 
noting each other's they replaced them on the 
table and shuffled them in with the rest. 

"Be sure to remember your own," warned 
Uncle Bob. "Never mind each other's." 

So Lucy kept saying to herself "Three-five," 
and Fred carefully remembered four-one. 

"Now," went on Uncle Bob, "each of you se- 
lect in your mind the number of spots on one 
end of your domino. Never mind the other end." 

The children did so. Of course they didn't 
know each other's choice; but Lucy decided to 
take five while Fred chose one. 
[47] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

Then Uncle Bob said : "Each of you multiply 
the number you have in mind by five." 

This was not difficult, and in a moment the 
two heads wagged as an indication that it was 
done. 

"To your result add seven/' went on Uncle 
Bob. 

Again the heads wagged. 

"Double what you now have," was the next di- 
rection, "and then add the number of spots on 
the other end of your domino. When you have 
done this, tell me your final result." 

"Sixty-seven," cried Lucy, and "twenty-eight," 
Fred announced as his. 

"Then," said their wise uncle, "Lucy took the 
five-three domino, and Fred took the four-one." 

"Just what we did !" cried Fred, and Lucy be- 
gan her usual plea: "Oh, uncle, how can you 
tell?" 

"Now, let us try it with dice," said Uncle Bob, 
instead of explaining the process. "Have you 
any dice handy?" 

"Yes, here are plenty with the ^parcheesi' set." 

"Very well; each of you take three. Throw 
[48] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

them where I can't see them, but keep them in 
your own view." 

Fred piled up some books on the table, and 
he and Lucy threw their dice behind the books 
so that Uncle Bob, across the table, could not 
see them. 

"We've each thrown three dice, sir. Now, 
what next?" 

"Each pay attention only to your own three. 
Now, each take any one of the three numbers 
uppermost on your dice, multiply it by two and 
add three to the product. Have you done that?" 

"Yes, sir." 

"Then multiply your result by five, and add 
seven." 

"Yes, sir." 

"Now, add the number on the second one of 
your dice, and multiply all by two." 

"Yes, sir." 

"Add three, multiply by five, and add the num- 
ber on the third and last one of your dice." 

"Yes, sir." 

"What are your results?" 

"Mine," said Lucy, "is six hundred and sixty." 
[49] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

"And mine is eight hundred and forty-eight," 
declared Fred. 

"Then," said Uncle Bob, after a moment's cal- 
culation, "your dice, Lucy, are four, two and five. 
Fred's are six, one and three." 

"Exactly right!" cried the delighted children, 
clapping their hands. "Now show us how to do 
it." 

"Can't you guess it for yourselves?" teased 
Uncle Bob. 

"No, we can't. Nobody could. Please tell 
us!" 

"Well, I will. It's this way. In the domino 
game, you simply subtract fourteen from the final 
result when it is announced. The two figures in 
the answer after you subtract fourteen will be 
the two figures representing the spots on either 
end of the domino." 

"Oh, how wonderful!" cried Lucy. "And yet 
how simple. Will it always come out right. Uncle 
Bob?" 

"Always, if you do the multiplication and ad- 
dition accurately." 

"Now, about the dice," cried Fred. "I think 
[50] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

they are even more astonishing than the domi- 
noes." 

"Well, in the dice game, you must subtract 
two hundred and thirty-five from the total re- 
sult when it is given you." 

"Why two hundred and thirty-five? Is it al- 
ways two hundred and thirty-five to be sub- 
tracted?" 

"Yes; these figures are unchangeable, and ap- 
ply to every case. Direct that the multiplying 
and adding shall be done just as I told you, and 
then subtract fourteen for the domino trick, or 
two hundred and thirty-five for the dice trick, 
and you can't help being right." 



[51] 



IX 



IN WHICH UNCLE BOB APPARENTLY BEADS THE 
FACES OF THE DOMINOES THROUGH THE BACK 
OF HIS HEAD. 



H 



/ / *▼" "^OORAY! hooray! a rainy day!" 

cried Fred, and Lucy joined him. 

Uncle Bob good-naturedly put 

down his book, and looking at his 

watch, declared he had just a half -hour to devote 

to his niece and nephew. "What shall it be?" he 

asked. "Dominoes again?" 

"That one was lovely," cried Lucy. "Do you 
know another like that?" 

"Yes, I know another domino game. Now I'll 
read a few pages of my book, while you two 
match out the dominoes. Put them together, end 
to end, just as you do when you're really play- 
ing." 

[52] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

With both children at it, it didn't take long, 
and soon the long line of dominoes reached the 
length of the table, and Lucy announced to her 
uncle that their task was done. 

Uncle Bob had gone over to the bay-window to 
catch the last rays of afternoon light on his 
book. His back was toward the children, and 
without turning around, he said, "The spots at 
each end of your long line are four and three." 

"Oh, uncle!'' cried Lucy, fairly gasping, "how 
could you tell? You haven't looked this way 
once !" 

"I'll look now and make sure," said Uncle 
Bob, laughing as he walked over to the table. 
"Yes, just as I said. You see I willed you to 
arrange them that way. Now, we'll shuffle them 
up and try it again." 

Uncle Bob helped the children to turn all the 
dominoes and shuffle them around thoroughly. 
Then he went back to the bay-window while they 
again matched the line. 

Fred kept his eye on his uncle, and not once 
did that man look toward them. 

"All ready," called Lucy. 
[53] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

"All ready it is," responded Uncle Bob. "Your 
ends are two and blank." 

"Right you are!" exclaimed Fred. "This is 
the most wonderful game yet.'' 

"Tell us, tell us!" begged Lucy. 

"Oh, you ought to guess such an easy one," 
said her uncle. "Here, I'll show you another. 
But this is a game I can play with only one of 
you at a time. Lucy, you shall be first. We 
won't use all the dominoes. Let us take, say, 
fifteen. Turn them black side up, or either side, 
it doesn't matter. Now, the game is that we 
may each remove in turn from the lot any num- 
ber of dominoes not exceeding three, the object 
being not to take the last one. I will begin, and 
I'll take two." 

"I'll take three," said Lucy, taking them as 
she spoke. 

"Then I'll take one," continued her uncle. 

"And I'll take one." 

"Now, I'll take three." 

"I'll take two," said Lucy, looking doubtful. 

"Then I'll take two also," said Uncle Bob, 
"which leaves you to take the last, my dear. 
[54] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

Don't look so chagrined, for I'm sure Fred will 
fare no better." 

Fifteen dominoes were again placed in a group, 
and Uncle Bob told Fred he could draw first, if 
he chose. 

"Very well, I'll take one," said the boy, with a 
confident smile on his face. 

"Then I'll take one," said Uncle Bob. 

"I'll take three," said Fred. 

"And I'll take one," said his uncle. 

Next, Fred took two, and Uncle Bob also took 
two. 

This left five on the table, and after some 
thought, Fred took one. 

Then Uncle Bob took three, leaving the last 
one for his nephew. 

"I thought I had you," said Fred ruefully, 
"but you are too cute for me. Tell us how, 
uncle." 

So, as Uncle Bob's half-hour was about gone, 
he explained both games to Fred and Lucy. 

The first one was a mere trick. Before leaving 
the table, when Uncle Bob assisted in the turn- 
ing and shuffling of the dominoes, he secreted 
[55] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

one in his hand and took it with him when he 
went over in the bay-window to read. As it was 
the four-three he took, he rightly announced that 
the end of the line were four and three respective- 
ly. Then when he came back to the table, ap- 
parently to verify his guess, he assisted at the 
next mix-up and shuffle, and had opportunity to 
return the three-four to the lot, and take an- 
other, which was the two-blank. The victim of 
this game is not at all likely to miss the purloined 
domino, as it does not occur to him to count them. 
And every time they are shuffled for a new trial, 
the missing one can be returned and another 
taken away. Of course, it should be done adroit- 
ly. 

In the second trick, the secret of winning is 
merely to take away such numbers of dominoes 
as will finally leave five on the table. 

Then, whatever number your opponent takes 
from the five, you can be sure of forcing him to 
take the last one. In order to be sure of leaving 
five for your opponent, it is wise to play pre- 
viously so as to leave nine, and before that, if 
possible, thirteen. So, if you play first, take 
[56] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

two at your first play. If your opponent plays 
first, watch your opportunity to leave him thir- 
teen, nine, or five, which will insure your suc- 
cess. If both players know the game, he who 
plays first must win. It is not necessary to start 
with fifteen dominoes. A larger number may be 
used ; but the principle to be observed is to leave 
your opponent with thirteen, nine, and five to 
draw from. 



[57] 



IN WHICH UNCLE BOB PROVES HIMSELF A REAL 
WIZARD IN THE MANIPULATION OF COINS AND 
CHECKERS. 

^^"W" yNCLE Bob," said Lucy in her 

I I wheedlesome way, "it isn't rain- 

\^m^ ing; but the paper says Trobably 

showers,' so won't you give us a 

new trick?" 

"I'd like to know," declared the long-suffering 
uncle, "if you children think I'm made of tricks." 
"We do," said Fred, "and I think we have 
good reason to think so." 

"All right," said Uncle Bob resignedly, "I'll 
show you a trick if you can put up the cash. Have 
you a dime and a nickel?" 
The silver coins were quickly produced. 
"If you had two dimes and two nickels, you 
could both try the trick at once." 
[58] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

Two more coins were exhibited. 

"Now," went on Uncle Bob, "hold your hands 
behind you, with one coin in each. Consider the 
number of pennies represented by the coin in 
your right hand, and multiply that number by 
any even number." 

After a moment of calculation both children 
wagged their heads to prove that this had been 
done. 

"Remember the result, but don't tell it to me. 
Now take the number of pennies represented by 
the coin in your left hand, and multiply it by 
any odd number you choose." 

Again the heads nodded affirmatively. 

"Now add together your two products. Lucy, 
is your final result even or odd?" 

"It's odd." 

"Then you have the dime in your right hand 
and the nickel in your left. Fred, what is your 
final result?" 

"One hundred and twenty." 

"Then, my boy, you hold your coins the other 
way, the nickel in your right hand and the dime 
in your left." 

[59] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

And as usual, Uncle Bob was right. 

"Tell us how!" clamored the children; and 
Uncle Bob explained it thus: 

"You need perform no calculations to do this 
trick. Simply tell anybody to multiply the coin 
in his right hand by an even number, and the 
coin in his left hand by an odd number, add the 
two products, and tell you if the final result is 
odd or even. If odd, he holds the dime in his 
right hand; if even he holds the nickel in his 
right hand." 

"I like that trick," said Fred, "just because it 
is so simple." 

"You can use other coins, if you wish," said 
Uncle Bob; "but they must always be one even 
and one odd. That is, you may use a dime and 
a penny, or a half-dollar and a quarter, or a 
dollar and a nickel. Then, to vary it, you may 
sometimes inquire whether the final result is 
odd or even, or you may ask for the figures of 
the result. Of course, the figures don't matter 
to you ; you only want to know if the sum is odd 
or even." 

"Give us one more trick, uncle, please," 
[60] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

begged Lucy; "it's half an hour yet till dinner- 
time." 

"Well, get some dominoes or checkers, or ^par- 
cheesi' counters, or anything like that." 

So the children dumped the checker box and 
domino box on the table. 

"Now I'll turn my back to you and sit in this 
chair while you do as I tell you. Each of you 
may take a lot of the dominoes or checkers or 
both, and arrange the ones you take in two rows 
in front of you on the table. Make one row 
longer than the other; say, sixteen in one row 
and nine in the other, or any such way you 
like." 

After a time this was done. 

"Now, each subtract the number in your 
shorter row from the number in your longer 
row, and tell me the difference." 

"Fifteen," said Lucy promptly, and Fred said : 
"Three." 

"Now, Lucy, from your short row take away 
two; and, Fred, from your short row remove 
seven." 

"Yes, sir." 

[61] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

"Take away from your long row as many as 
are at present in your short row." 

This was carefully done. 

"Lucy, you have now," said Uncle Bob with- 
out looking around, "just seventeen in your long 
row, and Fred, you have ten in your long row." 

"I do believe you have eyes in the back of your 
head, uncle," said Lucy. "Please try it again." 

So they tried it again, and then Uncle Bob ex- 
plained it. 

"Of course," he said, "it is harder to do two 
at a time, as I did with you. But suppose you 
are trying the trick on one of your young friends. 
Ask first the difference between the two rows. 
Then tell him to remove a certain number from 
his short row. This number, which you tell him 
to remove, plus the original difference which he 
told you, will be the answer you want. Remem- 
ber it carefully, then tell him to take from his 
long row as many as are in his short row, and 
then announce the answer as the number left 
in his long row. It will always come out 
right." 

"But, uncle, suppose I tell him to take twelve 
[62] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

from his short row, and he hasn't so many as 
that in his short row?" 

"Well, then, he'll say so, and you may say: 
*0h, well, then take away three,' or some small 
number like that." 



[63] 



XI 



IN WHICH UNCLE BOB READS THE DATES ON COINS 
THROUGH TURKISH RUGS AND BIG^ FAT DIC- 
TIONARIES. 



I 



/ / "W" LIKE arithmetical tricks best," said 
Fred meditatively. "I just love to do 
long calculations with paper and 
pencil, and then have Uncle Bob cool- 
ly announce the result of my hard work.'' 

"Yes," said Lucy slowly, "I love those too; but 
I believe I like it better when he does tricks with 
things — dominoes or cards or coins, you know." 
"All right, Lucy," spoke up Uncle Bob. "I'll 
show you a good trick with pennies. Have you a 
dozen or so?" 

"No," said Lucy, after hunting in her pocket, 
"I haven't one. Won't dimes do?" 

"No, it must be pennies. Have you any, Fred?" 
[64] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

"Not with me, sir. Oh, yes, I have two. Will 
they be enough?" 

"No, two won't be enough," said Uncle Bob, 
who was feeling in his own pockets; "but I have 
several more." 

He produced four or five pennies from each 
side pocket, and then discovered half a dozen 
more in his waistcoat pocket, until finally he held 
a dozen or so brown pennies in his hand. 

"Now get your hat," he said, and Fred obedi- 
ently held up his new derby. Then Uncle Bob 
put all the pennies in the hat and bade the chil- 
dren take one out, but on no account to let him 
see it. 

"One apiece?" said Lucy. 

"No, only one." 

They took a penny, and as Uncle Bob re- 
turned the rest of the coins to his pocket he 
said: 

"I will close my eyes while you hide it. Put 
it anywhere, so it is out of sight." 

They hid it under the edge of a rug, and an- 
nounced that it was hidden. 

"Yes," said Uncle Bob, "hidden, all but the 
[65] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

date — ^you can't hide that from me. Where is 
your precious cent?" 

"Under that rug," said Lucy, pointing at a 
thick Persian affair that thoroughly hid the 
penny. 

"Oh, I can see through a Persian rug!" said 
Uncle Bob scornfully. "Lay a big book over 
it" 

So they laid a fat dictionary on the rug, over 
the spot where the cent was hidden. 

"It shows through that," said Uncle Bob. 
"Put the afghan over the book. 

So Lucy piled the big afghan on top of the dic- 
tionary. 

"Pooh !" said Uncle Bob, "the date still shows 

through clearly. It is " He looked at the 

thick afghan intently, and though the children 
knew he couldn't see through it, they waited 
breathlessly while he paused. "It is 1892," he 
said at last triumphantly. And so it was. 

"Oh, that's a daisy trick !" cried Lucy. "Do it 
again, please, and then tell us how." 

"No, I won't do it again; but Fred, my boy, 
here are your two cents." 
[66] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

"Thank you. Please tell us the game, uncle." 

"It's a trick, rather than a game. I prepared 
for it by bringing with me a collection of pennies, 
all of which are 1892. You can easily make such 
a collection of any recent date. The two cents 
you loaned me I did not use, but slipped into my 
pocket." 

"I think it's a fraud," said Lucy; "but it's a 
good one. Show us another." 

"Here is a box of candy I brought for you two 
youngsters, and if you won't bother me any more 
this afternoon, I'll show you a candy trick, and 
then give you the box. Where is your hat, 
Lucy?" 

Lucy brought her hat, and Uncle Bob laid it 
on the table, and then placed Fred's hat on one 
side of it and his own on the other. Then he 
took three delicious-looking candies from the box 
and placed one under each hat. "The trick," he 
said, "is to bring all three candies together under 
one hat without touching them. I think I can 
do it, but first you must change their places, as 
I now know which one is under which hat. I'll 
turn my back and look out of the window, while 
[67] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

you rearrange them." Uncle Bob turned his 
back, and the children lifted the hats. 

"I'll tell you what, Lucy," whispered Fred, 
"Let's play a joke on uncle. You eat all three 
candies, and see what he'll do then." 

So mischief -loving Lucy quickly swallowed the 
sugar-plums. 

"All right, uncle," called out Fred, "we've ar- 
ranged them." 

Uncle Bob came back to the table, wearing the 
abstracted, thoughtful air that he always did on 
these occasions. "Yes," he said, "I can bring all 
three candies under one hat without touching 
them. But which hat shall it be? You choose, 
Fred." 

"I'll choose my own hat, sir." 

"Very well," and picking up Fred's hat. Uncle 
Bob calmly placed it on Lucy's curly head. 

Such a laugh as rang out! "Did you see me 
eat them?" she demanded. 

"No, chickabiddy. I must own up that this 
time I had a confederate. I told Fred before- 
hand to invite you to eat the candies, and I felt 
pretty sure you'd do it." 

[68] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

"That trick doesn't count then," declared the 
victim; "you must give us another to make up 
for it." 

But Uncle Bob had already donned his own 
hat and was about to leave the room. "I'll give 
you a parting problem," he said. "Get out your 
checker-board, take eight checkers, and see if 
you can so arrange them that there will be no two 
in the same row, either across, up and down, or 
diagonally." 

With that he disappeared, and the children 
gleefully set to work. It was harder than they 
thought, but after a half-hour's puzzling they had 
achieved the problem, and on their uncle's return 
proudly showed him their success. 

The only way to tell without a diagram how 
they did it is to consider the rows on the checker- 
board designated from one to eight one way, and 
from A to H the other, A and one beginning at 
the same corner. Then place the eight checkers 
on A-7, B-2, C-6, D-3, E-1, F-4, G-8 and H-5, when 
the conditions will have been complied with. 



[69] 



XII 



IN WHICH UNCLE BOB TAPS PLAYING CARDS WITH 
HIS PENCIL^ WHICH STOPS MYSTERIOUSLY, AL- 
WAYS ON THE RIGHT CARD. 



H 



/ / "W" "W" ERE we are, Uncle Bob !'' cried 
Lucy, as the children bounded 
into the library. "What's the 
fun for to-day?'' 
"To-day," said her uncle, "I think I'll show 
you a card game. It's an interesting one, and 
you'll be able to puzzle your young friends with 
it, after you have thoroughly mastered it your- 
selves." 

"What lovely new cards !" exclaimed Lucy, as 
she saw the shining bits of pasteboard in her 
uncle's hands. 

"Yes, it's a good pack; and I'll present it to 
either of you if you can guess how the trick is 
done." 

[70] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

"And if we can't guess it, what then?" asked 
Fred. 

"Then I'll give the cards to both of you, and 
you can own them together." 

"Which will really do just as well," said Lucy 
contentedly; "for I know we can't guess the 
trick." 

Uncle Bob threw the pack of cards loosely 
on the table and directed the children each to 
choose a suit. 

Lucy chose hearts, and Fred clubs. 

"Now, Lucy," said Uncle Bob, "you pick out 
all the thirteen hearts, and Fred take all the 
clubs. Lay aside the other two suits." 

This was soon done, and Uncle Bob proceeded. 

"The trick can be done with only one of you 
at a time. Lucy, we'll let you try it first. Lay 
out all your hearts on the table, face up." 

"In any sort of order?" 

"No, just in a mixed-up group. Yes, that's 
right. Now, select one in your mind, but don't 
speak it aloud." 

"Can't I know which one it is?" asked Fred. 

"Yes, I'll close my eyes ; I'll even turn my back 
[71] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

to you. Now, Lucy, point out to Fred your chosen 
card." 

Lucy had selected the seven of hearts, and she 
pointed it out to her brother. 

"Now, then," said Uncle Bob, as he again faced 
the children across the table, "I will tap on the 
cards, one by one, with my pencil, and do you 
both count taps, but not aloud; just count si- 
lently in your minds. And begin your counting 
with the number of the card you chose. That is, 
if you selected the ace, count my first tap one; 
but if you selected the nine, count my first tap 
nine, and go on, ten, eleven, etc." 

"But there isn't any eleven, uncle," objected 
Lucy. 

"Oh, yes; I meant to tell you. Call the jack 
eleven, the queen twelve, and the king thirteen. 
Now, I'll begin. Remember, my first tap you are 
to call by the number you chose, and then go 
on counting straight ahead until you come to 
twenty, when you must speak the twenty aloud." 

Breathlessly the children watched their uncle, 
and carefully counted his taps. Of course, as 
they had selected the seven of hearts, they called 
[72] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

his first tap seven, his second tap eight, and so 
on. 

Carelessly, Uncle Bob tapped the various 
cards, now here, now there; once he tapped the 
seven itself, but as he hadn't yet reached the 
count of twenty the children said nothing. At 
last, on the twentieth tap, Lucy and Fred both 
cried together : "Twenty !" 

Uncle Bob held his pencil still on the card he 
had touched last, and lo and behold, it was the 
seven ! 

"Why, how did you know?" cried Lucy in 
amazement. "You touched that once before; did 
you know it?" 

"It doesn't matter which I touch," replied her 
uncle, "as long as I touch the right one at twenty. 
Now Fred, let's try your clubs." 

Lucy gathered up her heart-cards, and Fred 
spread out his thirteen clubs on the table. 

Again Uncle Bob closed his eyes and turned 
his back, and Fred silently pointed to the queen 
of clubs. 

"All right," said Lucy, and the game began 
again. 

[73] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

As the queen counted for twelve, they called 
Uncle Bob's first tap twelve, his next tap thir- 
teen, etc. 

At random, his pencil tapped the various cards, 
but when the children sang out "Twenty!" the 
pencil rested on the queen of clubs. 

"It's a lovely trick," said Lucy. "Now show 
us how to do it, please." So Uncle Bob explained 
it to them thus: 

"When you are doing the trick, you must count 
in your mind the taps as you give them, beginning 
with one. Now, your first seven taps may fall at 
random on any of the cards, but the eighth tap 
must fall on the king. Then the next must fall 
on the queen, next on the jack, next ten, next 
nine, and so on in regular order through the num- 
bers backward, down to the ace. 

"Then, whenever the other person cries *Twen- 
ty !' your pencil will be on the chosen card. But 
you must be careful to touch the king at the 
eighth tap, and then the other cards straight 
down in reverse order, without seeming to look 
for any particular card. Tap slowly, and find 
the card you want next, before you raise your 
[74] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

pencil from the one it is on. Thus it will look 
as if you were hitting the cards at random, and 
will greatly enhance the trick." 



[75] 



XIII 

IN WHICH UNCLE BOB LOOKS OUT OF THE WINDOW 
AND SOLVES A CARD TRICK ON THE TABLE BE- 
HIND HIM. 



o 



^ ^ y^*""^ H, Uncle Bob," cried Fred at the 
next meeting of what the children 
now called "The Eainy-Day 
Club," "I had the most fun with 
that card trick you showed us. Do you know an- 
other?" 

"I did too," put in Lucy. "I showed it to the 
girls at school, and they were so mystified! Do 
tell us another." 

"All right, youngsters, just as you say. Have 
you a pack of cards handy?" 
"Yes, sir. Here they are." 
"Very well. Now you can both play at this 
game. Select ten spot-cards, from one to ten, 
calling the ace one." 

[76] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

"All of one suit?" 

"It doesn't matter, just so that you have all 
of the numbers from one to ten. Indeed, plain 
cards with the figures written on them would do 
just as well." 

"All right, uncle; here are the ten cards, 
though some are black and some red." 

"That will do. Now lay aside all the rest 
of the pack and use just these. Next lay 
them face up in a straight row in regular or- 
der, beginning with the ace and ending with the 
ten." 

The children did as they were told. 

"Now," went on Uncle Bob, "turn over each 
card on its face, but don't disarrange their 
order." 

Lucy and Fred quickly did so. 

"Now for the trick," said Uncle Bob. "I will 
turn my back and look out of the window, while 
you follow these instructions. Take a card from 
the ace end of the line and lay it at the other 
end." 

"Yes, we've done that." 

"Very well ; that was the ace, or course. Now 
[77] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

take the next one from the ace end — that will be 
the two — and lay it at the other end." 

"Yes, that's done." 

"Now go on that same way. Move as many 
cards as you like, but only one at a time, and al- 
ways from the left-hand end of the row to the 
right-hand end. But don't turn over any of 
them. 

Then Lucy and Fred, careful to observe Uncle 
Bob's directions, moved six more cards, making 
eight moved in all. 

In a moment the children said : "There, uncle, 
we're all ready. Turn around." 

Uncle Bob came back to the table and said: 
"Now, do you know how many you moved?" 

"Yes, sir." 

"Very well; I will tell you without saying a 
word." Then he touched a card with his fore- 
finger. He turned it over and it was the eight- 
spot. 

"Yes, we did!" cried Lucy; "we did move eight 
cards ! Oh, try it again !" 

"Very well," said her uncle, "and of course 
you know I wouldn't peep at you; but in order 
[78] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

that you may feel sure that I can't see you I'll 
step into the next room, and you may call me 
when you're ready." 

"Now Lucy," said Fred, as the door closed be- 
hind Uncle Bob, "we'll fix him. We'll move 
every one of the whole ten." So, careful to do it 
just right, they moved every card, one by one, 
from the left end of the line to the right. 

"Come in !" they called, and Uncle Bob came 
back, marched to the table and picked up a card. 
He turned it over, and it proved to be the ten- 
spot. 

"This beats all the rest!" cried Fred. "How 
do you know what card to pick up? Are they 
marked on the back?" 

"Of course they're not!" exclaimed Lucy in- 
dignantly. "Uncle Bob doesn't do that sort of 
tricks ! But I can't see through it." 

"Well, listen," said their good-natured uncle. 
"When you close your eyes, remember the num- 
ber of the last card of the line. 'Eight-hand end' 
and 'left-hand end' are confusing, because the 
performer's right is the observer's left, and vice 
versa, so we'll say the first end, meaning the end 
[79] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

where the ace was originally, and the last end, 
meaning the other. Well, as I said, when you 
close your eyes remember the number on the card 
at the last end of the line. When you open your 
♦eyes, count back from the last end so many and 
one more. This will be the card to turn up and 
will represent the number of cards moved. For 
instance, if when you close your eyes six is at the 
last end of the line, then simply count back seven 
from the last end and turn up the seventh card." 

"How do you know what card is on the last 
end when they're all upside down?" 

"You must remember each time. It's easy 
enough. Of course, if you arrange them from 
one to ten, ten is at the end the first time you 
try the trick." 

"But if you add one to that you have eleven. 
How can you count back eleven?" 

"Simply by beginning at the end, counting 
back to the first, which gives you ten, and then 
going back to the end again for eleven. Then 
when you close your eyes to try it again, remem- 
ber what is at the end, add one to it, and next 
time count that many back from the last end. 
[80] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

Turn up the card, and there's the answer. Then, 
while they're exclaiming at your cleverness, care- 
fully reckon from the card you turned up back 
to the last end to see what number is there. Ke- 
member this, otherwise you'll have to take a 
glance at the last card, which greatly weakens 
the trick. Still, if you do have to do this, pre- 
tend to be straightening the cards in line, and 
manage to get a look at the last one so you can 
perform the trick again." 



[81] 



XIV 

IN WHICH UNCLE BOB DOES A MYSTIFYING CARD 
TRICK IN THREE OR FOUR WAYS, AND ALWAYS 
SUCCESSFULLY. 

UNCLE BOB laid aside his book and pre- 
pared to amuse his niece and nephew. 
"We'll play with cards to-day," he an- 
nounced. "To begin with, we'll try 
this little experiment in mind reading." 

Uncle Bob held the pack of cards between his 
two hands, shuffling them rapidly. He then of- 
fered them to the children and let them shuffle the 
cards thoroughly. Taking the pack again, he 
held it with the backs of the cards up loose- 
ly between his two hands. Then, with the 
finger tips of his right hand he began drawing 
down the cards one by one, about half an inch 
from the top of the pack, bidding the children 
stop him whenever they chose. When he had 
[82] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

pulled down some fifteen or twenty, Lucy cried, 
"Stop!" 

Uncle Bob stopped, and drawing entirely away 
from the pack all the cards he had pulled down, 
he held them so that the bottom card could be 
seen by the children but not by himself. He 
bade them notice what it was, and Lucy and they 
saw that it was the king of spades. 

"Uncle Bob then returned the cards to the rest 
of the pack, and immediately handed them all 
to the children to shuffle as much as they chose. 
Then, taking the pack again, he announced that 
he would show them the card they had in mind. 
He shuffled the pack himself, and then, grasping 
it between his thumb and finger tips, he flung it 
sharply on the floor. 

To the delight of the children, all the cards 
fell to the floor except the king of spades, which 
remained in Uncle Bob's hand. 

Again they tried it ; but this time with a slight 
i^ariation. Spreading the cards like a fan. Uncle 
Bob allowed the children to draw one, and bade 
them note it carefully, but on no account to let 
him see it. They did so, and returned it to the 
[83] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

pack, which Uncle Bob immediately gave to them 
to shuflle. They shuflled it thoroughly, and re- 
turned it, whereupon their wizard uncle re- 
marked that he would show them their card, or 
tell them its name, whichever they chose. 

"Show it to us," cried Fred; "it's lots more 
fun." So, carelessly gathering up the pack, 
Uncle Bob again flung it to the floor, and this 
time all the cards reached the floor face down- 
ward except the three of diamonds, which lay 
face up, staring at them, and which was the very 
card Fred had previously drawn from the pack. 

The third time Uncle Bob merely handed the 
pack to the children, bidding them keep out one 
card and give him back the rest of the pack. They 
did so, and after they had noted the card he asked 
them to put it in the pack at any place they 
chose. 

This they did, and, after the usual shuflaing, 
Uncle Bob announced that this time Lucy should 
show the card herself. So he put the pack into 
Lucy's hand, face upward, and bade her hold it 
with her thumb on the top card and her four 
fingers underneath. He directed especially that 
[84] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

her finger tips should extend under the pack 
about an inch, but her thumb on top not more 
than half an inch. 

"Hold them tight," said Uncle Bob, and as he 
spoke, he himself struck the pack of cards a 
smart rap with his forefinger, whereupon all the 
cards fell to the ground except the queen of 
hearts, which remained in Lucy's hand, and 
which was the one they had selected that time. 

"Now for the explanation," said Uncle Bob. 
"The first thing is, to discover the card chosen. 
This I did in three ways. The other part of the 
trick is to display the card chosen, and this I also 
did in three ways. I shall explain the three 
methods of discovery first. In the first experi- 
ment I drew the cards backward one by one from 
the top of the pack, until Lucy stopped me at any 
card she chose. Now, I had previously noted the 
card on the bottom of the pack, and after pulling 
down the first one or two from the top I secretly 
pulled down the bottom card also, about an inch. 
Then when Lucy stopped me, I drew off those 
I had pulled from the top of the pack, and the 
bottom card with them. Thus when I held the 
[85] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

pack up for you to look at, it was really the bot- 
tom card, the one I had previously noted, which 
you saw. As I knew the card perfectly, I could 
of course find it again, no matter how much you 
shuffled the pack. 

The second way of discovering the card chosen 
was this: "When I offered the pack, spread 
fanwise, and you drew a card from it I secretly 
pressed the card with my finger nail as you took 
it. This made a slight mark by which I was 
able to detect the card easily enough, after you 
had shuffled the pack. 

"The third time I could not mark another card 
with my finger nail, as I would not know which 
was which ; so I employed another method. After 
you had drawn a card I held the rest of the cards 
carelessly in my hands, and gently pressed the 
ends until all the cards in the pack were slightly 
concave. Then, when you slipped the straight 
smooth card back among them, the merest glance 
was sufficient to detect the card. After this I of 
course bent all the cards again to their original 
straightness. This is an especially safe and sim- 
ple method. 

[86] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

"Now, as to exposing the chosen cards. In 
the first instance, you remember, I threw the 
pack on the floor and the chosen card remained 
in my hand. The way to do this is to select the 
chosen card, which you have already discovered, 
and place it on the top of the back face down- 
ward, that is to say, on the back of the pack. Now, 
grasp the pack firmly between the thumb and 
fingers of your right hand. Hold the finger tips 
tightly against the back card and the thumb 
loosely against the front card. Give your hand 
a quick jerk, and all the cards will fly to the floor 
except the back card, which will stick to your 
fingers. If you choose, you may slightly moisten 
your finger tips, but this must be done slightly 
and secretly. A few trials of this feat will prove 
to you how easy of accomplishment it is. 

"The second way of disclosing the card chosen 
is to hold the pack as before, lengthwise and face 
downward ; but take care that the back or chosen 
card projects all along about an inch beyond the 
others. Dash the cards to the fioor, face down, 
and all will fall on their faces except the last 
one, which the resistance of the air will cause 
[87] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

to turn over, and which will invariably land face 
upward. This is perhaps the surest and most as- 
tonishing way of displaying the card, and after a 
few experiments you need never fail. 

"The third is to give the pack to another per- 
son to hold, face up, and with the chosen card at 
the bottom of the pack. If the cards are held as 
I instructed Lucy to hold them, with the finger 
tips pretty well under, and the thumb near the 
edge on top, a sharp rap from the hand of an- 
other person will make them all fall to the floor 
except the bottom card, which will be retained 
by the friction of the fingers. A variation of this 
is to hold the cards yourself, and let some one 
else strike the pack sharply for you." 



[88] 



XV 



IN WHICH UNCLE BOB^S CARD POLICEMAN ARRESTS 
THREE JACKS, LETS THEM ESCAPE AND CATCHES 
THEM AGAIN. 



/ / A CARD trick, to-day, Uncle Bob, if 
/% you please,'^ said Lucy, in her 

JL JL coaxing way. 

"Cards it is," replied her uncle 
gaily, and the children settled themselves for a 
delightful afternoon. "This is called the 
Burglar Trick," he went on, "and it is one of the 
most amusing ones I know, though not at all 
difacult. 

"First we shall pick out three jacks and one 
king to use for characters in our story. The 
three jacks are three bold and daring burglars, 
and the king is a policeman who is trying to catch 
them. The rest of the pack of cards is the house 
the burglars intend to rob. 
[89] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

"They steathily creep up, and one burglar en- 
ters by the cellar window." As he said this, Uncle 
Bob put one jack at the bottom of the pack. 
"One climbed in at the parlor window." Here 
he inserted another jack in the middle of the 
pack. "And the third burglar climbed to the 
roof and entered through the skylight in the at- 
tic." A third jack was then placed at the top 
of the pack. Of course, all the cards of the pack 
were backs uppermost. 

"The policeman saw the last burglar clamber- 
ing down through the skylight, so he climbed 
down after him." Here Uncle Bob placed the 
king on top of the jack which had been placed 
on the pack last. 

"Now," he proceeded, "the policeman has been 
clever enough to catch all three of the wicked 
burglars. But of course, to do so, greatly upset 
the house. Lucy, to represent the upsetting of 
the house, will you please cut the pack?" 

Lucy did so, and then Uncle Bob turned the 

pack over, face up, and spreading the cards 

apart, showed the three jacks and the king all 

together. "Why," cried Lucy, "how could they 

[90] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

get together, when I saw you put them in three 
different parts of the pack?" 

"I'll show you again what a clever policeman 
this is," went on Uncle Bob. "He told the three 
rogues that he would take them to the sta- 
tion house. With that, they started running, 
and hid from the policeman in an old ware- 
house. One hid in the cellar, one in the sec- 
ond story, and the other behind a chimney on 
the roof.'' 

Again, as he spoke, he put the three jacks at 
the bottom, middle, and top of the pack, then, 
laying the king on the top jack, he said, "But the 
policeman collared the fellow on the roof, and 
then skipped down through the house and caught 
the other two." 

And sure enough, after both the children had 
cut the cards. Uncle Bob spread them out, and 
there were the policeman and his three prison- 
ers all together again. 

"It's a fine trick !" cried Fred enthusiastically. 
"Do tell us how to do it; please, uncle." 

"It's so easy, you ought to guess it for your- 
self; but this is the way it's done. Before you 
[91] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

begin your story, privately place the other jack 
of the pack, the fourth one, at the bottom of 
the pack. Then, when you place one of your 
three burglar jacks also at the bottom, take care 
not to lift the pack high enough to show this. 
Then put a jack in the middle of the pack and 
one on top, and then the king on top. Now, by 
cutting the pack, the two jacks at the bottom, and 
the jack and king at the top are all brought to- 
gether. It is not often noticed that the three 
jacks are not just the same three that were se- 
lected to be the burglars." 

"Oh, that's a lovely trick!'' said Lucy; 
"but it's a short one. Do show us another, 
please !" 

"Well, just one more. Here's a good one ; but 
you must pay close attention. Draw a card, one 
of you; but don't let me see it." 

Uncle Bob spread the pack, fanwise, backs up, 
and Lucy pulled one out. It was the six of 
spades. 

"Look at it well, both of you, so you'll remem- 
ber it. Now return it to the pack. Slip it in 
anywhere." 

[92] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

Lucy slipped the card in among the others, 
and, then, turning the cards face uppermost, 
Uncle Bob asked the children to make sure it was 
still there and that they remembered it. 

"Yes, we see it," said Fred. 

Then Uncle Bob put both hands behind him, 
still holding the pack, and in a moment he said, 
"I command the card you selected to nail itself 
to the door !" 

He flung the whole pack at the door, and as 
it hit it, every card dropped to the floor, except 
the six of spades, which remained staring at 
them, tightly nailed to the door. 

"Whew! that beats all the rest," cried Fred. 
"Do it again, uncle." 

Again they selected a card, careful that Uncle 
Bob should not see it. Again they tucked it back 
in the pack. 

Uncle Bob put the pack behind him for a few 
seconds, then with a quick motion he flung the 
pack at the door again. And sure enough, there 
was their second chosen card nailed up beside 
the six of spades. 

"That's the loveliest trick you ever showed us," 
[93] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

said Lucy ; "but I don't believe I could do it, 
even if you show me how." 

"Oh, yes, you can. It's really very simple. 
First, you must ascertain what card is picked 
out from the pack. As I have told you before, 
there are several ways to do this ; but one of the 
simplest is, after the card is drawn, bend the rest 
of the pack by its two ends until it is slightly 
curved. You can do this without being noticed, 
if you just hold the pack carelessly in your two 
hands, and bend the ends toward each other. 
Then when the straight or unbent card is re- 
turned to the pack, you can discern it in an in- 
stant. Then get it to the bottom of the pack, or 
rather, the top, as it must have its face toward 
the pack. 

"Have in your pocket a small sharp thumb 
tack, such as you can get at any stationery shop. 
With your hands behind you, stick this tack 
through the chosen card so that the head of the 
tack will be on the back of the card. Then place 
the rest of the pack on the back of the prepared 
card, and bring your hands to the front again. 
Dash the pack against the door, and the force of 
[94] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

the pack itself will drive the tack into the wood. 
Of course, all the cards except the tacked one will 
fall to the floor instantly, and that will remain 
in full view." 



[95-j 



XVI 

IN WHICH UNCLE BOB PERFORMS A CLEVER TRICK 
IN MIND READING AND MIND WRITING WHICH 
AMAZES THE CHILDREN. 

AFTER considerable coaxing, Lucy 
and Fred had persuaded Uncle Bob 
to do one of his clever tricks for 
the entertainment of their social 
club one evening. 

So after the young people were assembled, 
Uncle Bob came into the room. He greeted them 
pleasantly, and then announced that he would 
give them an exhibition of mind reading and 
mind writing. 

Having taken his place at one end of the room, 
the children all sat facing him, eager to see 
what would happen. Uncle Bob sat at a small 
table, on which lay a pad of paper and a pencil. 
\ "First," he said, "I shall ask Fred to help me 
[96] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

a bit, as it is not for an old gentleman like me 
to be running about tbe room. And so, Fred, 
will you offer this pad and pencil to somebody, 
and ask him or her to write a simple question 
on it." 

Harry Green, who was a very quick-witted 
youth, and rather suspicious of magic per- 
formances, wrote, "What day of the month is 
to-day?'^ 

"Don't let Fred see it, or Lucy or myself," 
said Uncle Bob, "though you may show it to 
the others." 

So Harry Green showed the question to two 
or three of those who sat near him. 

"Now," said Uncle Bob to Harry, "tear off 
the top leaf of the pad, on which you have writ- 
ten, and fold it up carefully. To make it more 
secure, place it in this envelope." He gave Fred 
an envelope to hand to Harry. "Examine it well," 
said Uncle Bob. "See that it is a plain, ordi- 
nary envelope. Now inclose your folded paper, 
seal the envelope, and place it in your own 
pocket." 

Harry did so, remarking that certainly nobody 
[97] 



BAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

knew what was on that paper except himself 
and the few to whom he had shown it. 

"Now," went on Uncle Bob, "will you please 
bring me a blank card, Fred? One of your 
mother's calling cards will do." 

Fred returned in a moment with the visiting 
card. 

"Now, young people," said Uncle Bob, "you 
see this card. Blank on one side, and having 
Mrs. Boylston's name engraved on the other. 
Also, you see this plain envelope. I shall ask this 
little girl in the front row to put the card in 
the envelope and seal it. You don't know what 
question Harry Green wrote, do you?" 

"No, sir," said the little girl. 

"Very well. Put the card in the envelope, seal 
it securely, and hold it. Now, Harry Green, 
please give your envelope to some one who does 
not know what you wrote on it." 

Harry handed it to a boy who sat at the farther 
side of the room. 

Then Uncle Bob made the boy who held one 
envelope and the girl who held the other stand 
up in front of him. Gazing straight at the 
[98] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

boy's envelope, Uncle Bob stared at it for a few 
moments, and then said, ^'I can't see through the 
envelope with m^^ eyes open, but I shall close 
my eyes, and read it with my mind.'' He closed 
his eyes, and soon he said slowly, as if reading, 
"What day of the month is to-day?" 

Harry Green sat in open-mouthed amaze- 
ment. 

"Oh, pshaw I" said Uncle Bob. "Mind reading 
isn't much. Mind writing is the difficult thing. 
If you will allow me, I shall mind-write both 
question and answer on the card in the other en- 
velope." 

Again closing his eyes, Uncle Bob slowly 
traced some letters in the air with his finger. 
"Now," he said, after completing his invisible 
writing, "If you will open the envelope Harry 
Green sealed, you will find his question written 
as I read it. Then if you will open the other 
envelope and take out the card " 

"Oh, let me do it !" cried Harry, excitedly. He 

tore open the envelope that he had sealed, and 

showed the paper to the rest. Then he tore open 

the envelope that the little girl held, and took 

[99] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

from it the card bearing Mrs. Bojnton's name. 
The other side was blank. "There's nothing writ- 
ten here," he said, turning to Uncle Bob. 

"Indeed!" said the latter. "Well, just take 
the tip of your knife blade and split the card 
in two." 

They all clustered round as Harry did this, 
and behold, after the card was split, Harry's 
question was found written on the inside of one 
half, and on the inside of the other half was 
plainly written the date of the day. 

Great excitement prevailed, for the children 
had never seen such a wonderful feat done right 
under their eyes before. Even Lucy and Fred 
said that Uncle Bob had fairly outdone himself. 

They begged him to do it again, and the good 
natured man repeated the trick over and over, 
each time with a different question, written by 
a different person. 

But no amount of coaxing would induce him 
to tell how he did it. "Mind waiting is a most 
difficult science to understand," he said, "and I 
fear I could not explain it to your comprehen- 
sion." 

[100] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

But after the others had gone home, Lucy 
wheedled it out of him. 

It seems that Fred was a confederate. The 
pad on which the question was written was so 
arranged that it had a sheet of carbon copy paper, 
such as typewriters use, beneath the two top 
pages of white paper. Then when a question 
was written on the top page, the carbon paper 
transferred it to the third page. When the top 
page was torn off, it left a plain white page still 
over the carbon. Then when Fred went away 
with the pad, he simply tore off the blank page 
and with it the carbon copy of the question, and 
fixed the pad in order for the next performance. 
On his return with the envelope he carelessly laid 
the carbon copy on the table, so that Uncle Bob 
might read it at his leisure. 

Also, while Fred was out of the room on one 
errand or another he arranged the visiting card. 
There w^as ample time for this while Harry was 
folding and sealing his paper. The cards were 
arranged by having a number of blank cards the 
same size as the visiting cards. On the back of 
a visiting card, Fred wrote the question he had 
[101] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

already discovered, and on a blank card he wrote 
an answer. Then he lightly pasted together the 
edges of the two. Of course, paste, cards, etc., 
were all previously arranged. Thus, when the 
pasted card was shown, everybody supposed it 
to be a simple, single visiting card. They were 
not allowed to handle it. 

The trick may be performed any number of 
times, if the pretended mind reader and mind 
writer can keep the audience sufficiently inter- 
ested not to notice the frequent absence of the 
confederate from the room. Excuses may be 
made for him to get a thicker envelope, or to 
sharpen the pencil, or even to get the mind writer 
a glass of water. Success, as usual in such tricks, 
depends on the performer's ease and grace of 
manner, and merry flow of conversation. If an 
unanswerable question is written, such as, "What 
was the date of my father's birth?" it is sufficient 
for all purposes of the trick to write, "I do not 
know," as that fully answers the question. 



[102] 



XVII 

IN WHICH UNCLE BOB DECLINES AN INTRODUCTION 
AND GUESSES THE NAMES OP A WHOLE ROOM- 
FUL OF CHILDREN. 

ONE wet afternoon Uncle Bob heard a 
light tap at his study door. "Come in," 
he said cordially, and Lucy entered. 
"Oh, uncle," she said, "we were go- 
ing nutting this afternoon — a big party of our 
schoolmates with us — and now it's pouring rain 
and we can't go. So the whole crowd came over 
here, and they're all in the play-room. And, 
Uncle Bob, won't you please come in there and 
do some trick or game or something? Do, 
please !" 

Uncle Bob looked a little dubious. "I'll go 
with you for a few minutes," he said. "How many 
visitors have you in the play -room?" 
"Oh, about a dozen." 

[103] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

"Do I know any of them?" 

"No, Uncle Bob, I don't believe you do. But 
I'll introduce you." 

"No, don't do that. Or rather, you may tell 
them my name, but let me tell them their names." 

Lucy stared. "Do you mean you can tell their 
names without knowing them?" she demanded. 

"I'll try," responded her uncle meekly. 

Somewhat mystified, Lucy led her uncle to the 
big play-room, which was just the place for a 
lot of merry children on a rainy afternoon. 

"How do you do, young people?" said Uncle 
Bob in his cheery way as he met the group. "Do 
any of you know my first name?" 

"Yes, indeed," cried several, "you're Lucy's 
and Fred's Uncle Bob." 

"That's right, my name is Robert. Now as 
I've never seen any of you before, have you any 
reason to think that I know any of your first 
names?" 

"Not unless Lucy or Fred has told you," said 
Ben Peterson. 

"No, they've never spoken to me about any 
of you individually, and if they have mentioned 
[104] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

3^our names in conversation, of course I don't 
know which is which. But I give you my word 
of honor that I don't know the Christian name 
of any one of you ; but I intend to discover each 
one and announce it without being told." 

The children gazed at him in wonder. 

Uncle Bob seated himself in a large arm-chair 
and drew another smaller chair up to his side. 
"Now," said he, "it doesn't matter who comes 
first, but will one of you please take this small 
chair beside me?" 

"You go," said Lucy, touching the arm of a 
merry little black -eyed girl. 

So smiling Marguerite Boss sat in the chair by 
Uncle Bob. 

"Now, my child," he said, "I will hold my 
hand open thus, and do you tap with your fore- 
finger on my palm as many times as there are 
letters in your name — ^your first name. And the 
rest of you will please keep quiet, in order that 
the knowledge of the name may pass from her 
finger to my hand, and so up my arm to my 
brain." 

This sounded delightfully mysterious, and the 
[105] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

children sat as still as mice, while Marguerite 
gave ten timid little taps on Uncle Bob's broad 
palm. 

The latter sat with his eyes closed and a look 
of intense thoughtfulness on his face. After the 
taps, he sat for a moment without saying a word, 
and then remarked slowly: "The name is 
working up my arm; it has reached my shoul- 
der; it will soon reach my brain, and then I 
can pronounce it. Oh, it is coming, it is al- 
most clear to me. There is a G in it, is there 
notr 

"Yes," said Marguerite breathlessly, gazing at 
the speaker. 

"Is it the fourth letter?" 

"Yes, sir." 

"Oh, yes, I now see it clearly. Your name is 
Marguerite." 

The children clapped their hands and applaud- 
ed like mad. That is, most of them did. But a 
few were skeptical and seemed to think that 
Lucy or Fred had in some way indicated Mar- 
guerite's name to her uncle. But Lucy and Fred 
declared this was not so, and they pointed out 
[106] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

Ben Peterson to try it next. Ben was one of 
the doubting ones; but he sat down by Uncle 
Bob and awaited orders. 

"Tap the letters of your name on my hand, 
please," said Uncle Bob. 

Now, Ben's real name was Benjamin, so he 
tapped on the palm eight times. 

"You doubt me," said Uncle Bob after a short 
pause. "You think this is trickery and not a 
real experiment. Therefore, your name doesn't 
flow up my arm so easily as it should. What is 
the first letter of it?" 

"B," sad Ben. 

"Oh, it is growing clearer in my mental vision. 
There is an N in your name?" 

"Yes, sir." 

"Two N's?" 

"Yes, sir." 

"Well, Benjamin, you have a fine old name." 

"How could he tell that it was Benjamin?" 
exclaimed Ed Murray. "Please, sir, will you tell 
my name next?" 

Uncle Bob consented and Ed tapped only 
twice on the outstretched palm. 
[107] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIOISrS 

"Does your name begin with A?" asked Uncle 
Bob. 

"No, sir." 

"Of course it doesn't! I only asked you for 
fun. Your name begins with E, and it's Ed." 

The game went on, and Uncle Bob correctly 
named all the children, asking each two or three 
questions as to certain letters which didn't ap- 
pear clearly to him at first. So wonderful did 
it seem that the children could scarcely believe 
it after all, and Uncle Bob, seeing this, said : 

"Now look here, boys and girls, I don't blame 
you for thinking that I might know your names 
some other way than through my arm; but I'll 
prove to you that I don't. Ben, you're the most 
skeptical one. Now I'll engage to tell you in 
the same way the Christian name of your grand- 
mother, or great-uncle, or anybody you may select 
in your family. Of course, you know I can't 
know the first names of your old or distant rela- 
tives." 

"All right, sir," cried Ben, with sparkling eyes. 
"I had an ancestor who fought in the Revolution. 
Will you tell me his first name?" 
[ 108 ] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

"I'll try. But you must help all you can. Sit 
down and try to think only of your ancestor and 
his name. Concentrate your mind just on his 
name. That is the way to transfer it to my mind. 
Now tap out the name on my palm." 

Ben's ancestor's name was Andrew, but none 
of the boys and girls knew it except himself, and 
he said not a word as he tapped slowly six times. 

"The letters are coming to my mind," said 
Uncle Bob, looking puzzled, "but they are all 
jumbled up. Which is the initial?" 

"A," said Ben. 

"Oh, yes, of course. Now they are all straight- 
ening out. Only the third one is a little blurred. 
The third letter is " 

"D," said Ben. 

"Ha, now they are all in position, and as clear 
as day at last. Your ancestor's name was An- 
drew." 

At this, even Ben's skepticism was satisfied, 
and then Uncle Bob had to tell the names of other 
ancestors and relatives. 

The young people went away marveling at the 
wonderful magic power of the Boylston chil- 
[109] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

dren's uncle, and no sooner were their guests 
gone than Lucy and Fred begged for an ex- 
planation of the game. 

"Well," said Uncle Bob, "it isn't an easy trick, 
but with a little practice I think you could learn 
it. The main thing is to preserve a mysterious 
air and pretend to know more than you really 
do know." 

"Of course the name going up your arm is all 
make-believe, isn't it?" asked Fred. 

"Yes, the real principle of the trick is founded 
by a good knowledge of all names. And the first 
point is the number of letters in a name. That 
is of course told to me by the number of taps on 
my palm. The next thing is to get the first letter. 
For beginners, it is better to ask the first letter 
right out, as that is a great help." 

"But you told Marguerite's name at once, with- 
out knowing the first letter." 

"That was a lucky chance. When she tapped 
ten times, I felt pretty sure her name was Mar- 
guerite, for that is the most popular of the few 
names that contain ten letters. Indeed, the 
others are such as Christabel and Wilhemina, 
[110] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

and are uncommon. But to be sure, I asked her 
if the fourth letter was not G, and when she said 
yes, I knew the name. Then Ben tapped eight 
times. Now there are a good many boy's names 
of eight letters, so I had to ask the first letter. 
When he said B, I thought it must be Benjamin, 
but in order to make no mistak:e I went along 
slowly, found there were two N's in his name, 
and then was ready to announce it. 

"I begin to see through it," said Lucy; "but 
nobody could learn all the names in the world." 

"You don't have to, my child. You'd be sur- 
prised to know how few names are in general 
use. And the long or short names are easy to 
guess. For instance, when I received only two 
taps from a boy, I knew it was Ed or Al, as 
there are no other usual names of two letters. 
So I asked if it began with A, and when he said 
no, announced it as Ed. Of course I might 
have been mistaken, but I was more than likely 
to be right. 

"Now that you begin to understand, you see 
that it doesn't matter whether I am guessing the 
name of the child sitting by me or of a distant 

[111] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

relative. Only, the names vary witK the times. 
We expect to find boys now named Ed and Clar- 
ence, but for a revolutionary ancestor we look 
for a more dignified name, though of course this 
is not an infallible rule. But when Ben tapped 
six times for his ancestor's name, I knew I had 
to ask for the first letter, for there are more 
names of six letters than any other number. Then 
he told me A, and I was baffled again ; for among 
six-letter names are Arthur, Albert, Arnold, An- 
drew, Alfred, Archie, Austin and many others. 
But they are best got at by knowing the third let- 
ter. So when he said the third letter was D, I 
knew it was Andrew, for I can't think of any 
other name that fulfils the conditions. 

"So you see it is sometimes easy to guess a 
name, and sometimes difficult. But, if you make 
some failures, they are always forgiven, because 
you are sure to make more successes. Long names 
are the easiest. If a girl taps nine letters, and 
you find out that the first letter is E, you can 
safely say Elizabeth at once. But if it is five let- 
ters, beginning with E, you are at sea among 
Elsie, Ellie, Edith, Ethel, Eliza, Effie, Ellen 
[112] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

and many more. In such a case pretend that 
you can't clearly see the third letter. When you 
get this, it will generally indicate the whole 
name. If not, you must ask for another letter. 
"But usually, if you know the number of let- 
ters, the initial and one other letter, you can be 
sure of the name." 



[113] 



XVIII 

IN WHICH UNCLE BOB, APPARENTLY BY FORCE OP 
WILL POWER, INFLUENCES LUCY TO PICK OUT 
THE CARD HE WISHES. 



H 



^ ^ IP TT OOKAY for the Rainy-Day Club!" 

cried Fred one wet afternoon. 

"Now for a good game. What's 

it to be this time, uncle?" 

"To-day I think I'll show you weak-minded 

young people how a stronger brain can influence 

a less powerful one." 

"Pooh !" said Lucy, tilting her small nose. "I 
may not know so much as you do, but I'm not 
weak-minded. Uncle Bob." 

"Your 're not eh? Well, suppose I undertake 
to prove that you are, or at least to prove that 
my brain can consciously influence your 
thoughts." 

[114] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

"O-ho, hypnotism !" exclaimed Fred. 

"No, not exactly that, but — well, I'll show you. 
Where's a pack of cards?" 

"Here you are," and Fred handed out a pack 
from the table-drawer. 

"All right," said Uncle Bob. "Lucy, I'll take 
you first, as you challenged me. Sit opposite me 
at the table, please. Fred, this time you may be 
merely an onlooker." 

Then Uncle Bob threw all the cards on the 
table face up, and shuffled them about helter- 
skelter. "Before we go further," he said, "I will 
write something on a bit of paper and give it to 
Fred for safe-keeping." 

So saying. Uncle Bob tore off a bit of the mar- 
gin of a newspaper, wrote something on it, folded 
it small, and asked Fred to stow it securely away 
in his pocket. This done, he turned to Lucy 
again. 

"Now, my girl, here are all the fifty-two cards 
spread out between us. In accordance with the 
game, you must choose one of the colors. Will 
you have black or red?" 

"Black," said Lucy promptly. 
[115] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

"Very well, I wanted you to choose black. That 
leaves me the red. I will pick them out and we 
will discard the black ones. Help me to do this." 

Quickly the colors were separated, the black 
ones gathered in a pack and handed over to Fred 
to be out of the way, and then the game went 
on. 

"Now," said Uncle Bob, "again I give you a 
choice. That is, you think you have a choice, but 
really I so influence your mind that you are 
obliged to choose according to my mental dicta- 
tion. But say which you will have, hearts or 
diamonds," 

Lucy hesitated. She felt sure she was making 
a free choice, and yet Uncle Bob looked at her 
piercingly, as though compelling her to do as 
he willed. 

"Hearts," she said at last. 

"Hearts it is," said her uncle gaily. "We'll 
gather up the diamonds and pass them over to 
Fred with the other discards." This done, he 
spread out the thirteen hearts before them and 
said: 

"There is an odd number ; please pick out one, 
[116] 



RAIXY DAY DIVERSIONS 

so it will be even. But mind, yon must take 
the one I will you to." 

Again Lucy determined that it was all non- 
sense, and of course she could choose whichever 
card of the thirteen she wished, but she felt her 
uncle's eye upon her and, as she said afterward, 
she felt impelled to choose the five-spot. 

"Just the one I wanted you to choose," said 
Uncle Bob, with an air of great satisfaction, and 
he handed the five of hearts to Fred. 

"Lucy," he went on, "here are now twelve 
hearts left. Select six — the six I will you to 
take." 

With an air of great bravado, Lucy drew to- 
ward her the ace, king, nine, four, three and two. 

"My, but you're easy to influence I" said her 
uncle. "Those are the very ones ! Hand them to 
Fred." 

Lucy gave them to her brother and watched 
her uncle as if fascinated while he ranged the 
cards that were left — the queen, jack, ten, eight, 
seven and six — in a row. 

"Lucy," he said, "be very careful now. Take 
three of these cards, and I mentally com- 

[117] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

mand you to take three certain ones and no 
others." 

With a trembling hand Lucy took the queen, 
ten and seven. 

"Good!'' cried Uncle Bob. "Fine! Just wait 
till I give these other three cards to Fred. There, 
now we are nearing the end. But we have an 
odd number; it must be made even. Draw one 
card, child." 

Lucy drew the queen, and at a gesture from 
her uncle handed it to Fred, who put it with his 
rapidly growing pack. Then Uncle Bob looked 
serious. He fairly glared at Lucy, and said in 
a low, stern voice : "Draw your last card !" Lucy 
boldly grasped the ten-spot. 

"Give it to Fred," cried her uncle, aad Lucy 
did so, thus leaving the seven of hearts alone on 
the table. 

"Now, Fred," said Uncle Bob, "will you kindly 
open that bit of paper in your pocket and read 
aloud what is on it?" 

Fred produced the scribbled slip and read: 
"The seven of hearts." 

"Well, then, Lucy," said her uncle, smiling, 
[118] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

"as I wrote that paper before we began, and as 
you, by choosing all the other cards, left the 
seven of hearts here at last, will you admit that I 
influenced your mind in your choice?^' 

"Oh, uncle, I don't know!" cried Lucy breath- 
lessly. "But I think it's wonderful. Please try 
it on Fred, and let me have the paper to keep, 
and let me hold the cards you discard." 

So the game was tried on Fred, and proved 
equally successful. 

"And now I've mystified you enough," said 
their good-natured uncle, "and I'll prove to you 
that I have no undue mental influence over you. 
The game is a most simple one. Its whole suc- 
cess lies in the air and manner of the person play- 
ing it. After having written the name of a card 
on a paper, remember that is the card you're to 
work toward. For example, suppose you decide 
on the king of spades, and you wish to force your 
victim to leave that on the table at the last. You 
first offer him his choice of colors. If he says 
black, you say ^Very well, we'll discard the 
red.' But if he chooses red, you must say 
with equal carelessness: ^All right, that leaves 
[119] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

black for me, and then discard the red just the 
same. 

"Having all the black cards on the table, again 
give him the choice of suits. If he chooses spades, 
you must discard the clubs. But if he takes 
clubs, you must say: ^Very well, that leaves us 
with the spades,' and still discard the clubs. 

"Then ask him to take out one of the thirteen 
spades to make the number even. Tell him you 
are willing him strongly at this point of the 
game. There are twelve chances against his tak- 
ing the king this time; but if he should do so, 
you have merely to act as if that was what you 
intended him to do, and produce your written 
paper in proof, saying : ^I wanted you to choose 
a certain spade, and you have done so.' 

"But if he does not choose the king, arrange 
your twelve cards in a row or group, and bid 
him choose six of them. If the six he chooses 
contain the king, discard the other six. If the 
six he chooses do not contain the king, merely 
say, *A11 right, discard those,' and then go on 
with the rest. And so on. If he chooses the 
share containing the selected card, discard the 
[120] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

other share. If he leaves the selected card in 
your share, discard his share. 

"At last there will be only two cards left, 
one the king of spades, or whatever card you 
named on the paper, and another. Bid him 
choose one. Then if he takes the king, trium- 
phantly prove by the paper that you forced him 
to do so. If he takes the other card and leaves 
the king on the table, tell him to discard his 
choice, and then prove by the paper that the last 
card on the table is the one you forced him to 
leave there. It's a great game if it's played with 
an air of being able to master your victim's 
mental choice." 



[121] 



XIX 

IN WHICH UNCLE BOB ENTERTAINS LUCY AND FRED 
WITH AN IMPJIOVISED PARLOR MENAGERIE. 

IT was only after a deal of coaxing that the 
children persuaded Uncle Bob to help en- 
tertain the Social Club, which met at their 
house on Friday afternoon. 
When the time came for Uncle Bob's part of 
the program, he entered the parlor where the 
children were assembled, carrying with him a 
foreign-looking box, while a large heavy shawl 
hung folded over his arm. 

Placing the box on the table, he began to talk 
in the mock serious tones which Lucy and Fred 
recognized as the kind he always used to hood- 
wink his victims. 

"I'm glad to see you, boys and girls," said 
Uncle Bob, "and I shall be greatly pleased if 
I can interest the young friends of my young 
[122] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

relatives in some wonders and curiosities which 
I brought home with me from my recent trip 
to the Kanoodledum Islands. They are not only 
curious and valuable, but I obtained them under 
most peculiar circumstances. These that I have 
here were obtained only on condition that I 
should show them to nobody. I shall therefore 
ask you to submit to certain conditions, by which 
you may participate in my enjoyment of these 
marvelous curiosities. If you will all please sit 
on the floor, in a sort of circle, and allow me to 
spread this large shawl so that its edges will rest 
on your laps, I shall then proceed with my 
plans." 

Willingly the children sat on the floor ranged 
in a circle, and drew the large shawl up on 
their laps. 

"Put your hands under the shawl," next in- 
structed Uncle Bob ; "and I must beg of you that 
no one will allow their hands to come outside the 
shawl, until the exhibition is over." 

As he opened his strange-looking box. Uncle 
Bob said: "The first relic which I shall pass 
around is one of the most marvelous curiosities 
[123] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

in existence. As you are not allowed to see it, 
you can examine it only by the sense of touch. 
After describing it, I shall pass it under the 
shawl to Fred, who will take it in his hands, and 
pass it next to his left-hand neighbor, and so 
on around the ring, until it reaches Lucy here, 
who will carefully hand it back to me. You may 
each make such exclamations as you choose of 
surprise or admiration, but please make no defi- 
nite comment upon any one of the curios." 

One and all, the children declared they ^ere 
not nervous, and would obey Uncle Bob's orders 
to the letter. 

"Now you know that there is considerable 
doubt as to what became of the remains of Chris- 
topher Columbus. Some people are uncertain 
as to whether his body was ever really buried, 
and if so, where. Now, the truth of the matter 
is, that when his remains were taken from Spain 
to Havana, or Havana to Spain, I forget which, 
an enterprising curio dealer cut off his right 
hand — I mean Christopher's right hand — and, 
subject to the conditions of which I told you, I 
succeeded in obtaining possession of it. Of course, 
[124] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

I mean to restore it to its place eventually; but 
while I have it, it will do no harm to give you 
young Americans an opportunity, which you will 
probably never have again, of shaking hands with 
Columbus." 

While Uncle Bob was talking, he had taken 
from his box an object which he covered with a 
silk handkerchief as he passed it under the 
shawl to Fred. This object in reality was a 
man^s kid glove, which had been stuffed with oat 
meal, sewed up, and laid on the ice for several 
hours. In Uncle Bob's box it had been buried 
in a dish of cracked ice, and when he took the 
damp, cold object from its place and passed it to 
Fred beneath the shawl, it did indeed feel as 
though it might be a hand of Christopher Co- 
lumbus, or anybody else. As the hand went 
round the circle, various expressions of fun, 
horror, and fear were heard; but, true to their 
promise, nobody drew the hand outside of the 
shawl, nor made any definite remark about it. 

As it was returned. Uncle Bob said that he 
would show them one of the most wonderful cu- 
riosities the world had yet produced. 
[125] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

"This," he said, "is a piece of the Weeping 
Eock. The Weeping Eock is a huge crag in the 
far distant country of Kanoodledum. From 
this rock a pair of unhappy lovers once threw 
themselves off, and were dashed to pieces. Im- 
mediately the great rock began to weep copious- 
ly, and has never ceased to do so. I was fortu- 
nate enough to secure a small piece of this rock, 
and shall pass it round among you, that you may 
feel of it. You will notice, after you have passed 
it on, that your fingers are wet from the tears it 
sheds." 

Then under the cover of the silk handkerchief 
Uncle Bob passed to Fred the bit of Weeping 
Eock. It felt like a jagged bit of stone, and sure 
enough, as it passed from one hand to another 
beneath the shawl, each hand was left damp from 
the sad tears of the strange mineral. 

The next curiosity was a sea urchin. This, 
Uncle Bob declared, was alive ; but at the present 
moment was asleep, and he trusted therefore that 
the children would pass it round quickly, and not 
awaken it from its nap. 

Beginning with Fred, the sea urchin was 
[ 126 ] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

passed along, and as each one grasped the spiny 
creature he was glad enough to pass it on to his 
neighbor. It seemed to have as many quills as 
a porcupine, and though much smaller, it was 
really a double handful of sharp stinging points. 

"It will not harm you," said Uncle Bob, smil- 
ing. "It is a tame sea urchin, and if it was 
awake would be glad to eat out of your hand." 

The next curiosity was a live seal. "This dear 
little creature," said Uncle Bob, "is accustomed 
to live on an iceberg, and does not feel at home 
in this warm climate. You will therefore pass 
him around quickly, that I may return him to his 
ice water tank." 

Fred took the seal first, and, as he felt the 
warm, moving body, with its soft fur, he was 
greatly tempted to look at it, for he had never 
seen a live seal, and this, judging from its size, 
was evidently a baby one. But, of course, he 
would not look at it; so he passed it on, and 
many exclamations of admiration were heard 
from the children as they petted the dear little 
creature. 

This completed the exhibition, if anything not 
[127] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

seen can be called an exhibition, and, shutting 
up his treasure box, Uncle Bob went away, pur- 
sued by the children, who begged to know the 
meaning of these strange things. But Uncle Bob 
only laughed, and declined to answer their ques- 
tions. 

The next day, however, he yielded to the im- 
portunity of his niece and nephew, and explained 
to them his trickery. 

The hand of Columbus has already been de- 
scribed. The Weeping Kock was merely an ir- 
regularly shaped piece of ice. The sea urchin 
was an orange, stuck full of wooden toothpicks. 
The live seal was a rubber hot-water bag, which 
had been filled with warm water, and wrapped 
around with two sealskin caps, which were care- 
fully fastened and bunched up at one end like a 
head. The peculiar quiver of a half-filled water 
bag, and the warmth striking through the soft 
fur, created a fine illusion of a living animal. 



[128] 



XX 



IN WHICH UNCLE BOB PROVES HIMSELF ALL OVER 
AGAIN A MOST AMUSING PARLOR WIZARD. 

IT was only after much coaxing that the 
Boylston children persuaded their uncle 
to do some tricks at their party. So, after 
the young people were assembled, he good- 
naturedly began. 

First, he cleared the books and pictures from 
a small marble-topped table, and threw upon it 
about two dozen pennies. These he quickly re- 
arranged, until all lay with the head sides up. 

"Now, I'll turn my back," he said, "while one 
of you selects one penny and removes it from the 
rest." Uncle Bob turned his back and closed his 
eyes, while one of the young guests took a penny 
from the lot on the table. 

"Very well," he said, turning round, "now I 
want every one of you children to look at that 
[129] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

cent carefully, so you'll know it again. Note the 
date and condition of it, and then several of you 
may scratch marks on it with a pin or a pen- 
knife, so you can recognize it beyond all doubt." 

The penny was passed from one to another, all 
scrutinized it, two or three boys scratched marks 
on it, and at last Ben Peterson, holding it tightly 
clasped in his hand, announced that they were all 
satisfied they would know it again. 

Then Uncle Bob took a hat, swept into it about 
half the pennies on the table, invited Bob to drop 
in the marked penny, and then dropped in the 
rest from the table. Then he shook the hat until 
the jingling pennies were well mixed, and 
asked the children to think hard about the par- 
ticular penny they had chosen, so that he might 
find it. He then allowed himself to be tightly 
blindfolded, and thrusting his hand into the hat 
drew it out again in a moment, holding a penny. 

"Here you are!" he said, and to Ben's aston- 
ishment he handed out the marked cent. 

Several times he repeated this trick, each time 
leaving out the previously marked coins; but 
none of the youngsters could guess how it was 
[130] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

done, for the marks were not deep enough to be 
felt by the fingers; indeed, sometimes they were 
merely pencil marks. 

Next, Uncle Bob seated himself at the little 
table. "Each of you," he said, "will please think 
of the name of some man celebrated in American 
history." 

While the children were thinking. Uncle Bob 
left the room for a moment, and returned with a 
pencil and numerous small slips of paper. 

"Tell me the names, and I will write them 
down," he said, "and if anyone else speaks the 
name you had thought of, you must choose an- 
other." 

So one said Abraham Lincoln, and Uncle Bob 
wrote rapidly on a paper slip and dropped it into 
a hat. Another said Theodore Koosevelt, an- 
other George Washington, another General 
Lee, and so on. Each time Uncle Bob wrote 
on a paper folded it and dropped it into the 
hat. 

Then, holding the hat carefully, he asked the 
children to select one of their own number to 
pick out a slip. 

[131] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

So Bessie Morton picked out a slip, and hid it 
carefully in her hand. 

"Pass it around," said Uncle Bob, "so that all 
may see it, and remember the name on it, but 
don't speak it or let me know what it is." 

The name proved to be George Washington, 
and each child read it, and then Uncle Bob in- 
structed Koger Hillis to burn it. 

"Take this metal ash-tray," he said, "crumple 
up the paper, lay it on the tray, touch a lighted 
match to it, and let it burn." 

In a moment the slip was reduced to black 
ashes. 

Then Uncle Bob did a wonderful thing. He 
pushed up his sleeve, then rubbed the black paper 
ash on his bare forearm, and there suddenly ap- 
peared on his flesh the name George Washington 
clearly written in black letters. 

This nearly took the children's breath away, 
and when he repeated the trick twice, and his 
arm showed Abraham Lincoln's name and next 
Theodore Roosevelt's, the young people decided 
that he was a true wizard. 

Uncle Bob would not explain to the whole 
[132] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

party how he did these tricks, but he afterward 
told Fred and Lucy. 

As to the pennies, the whole point lay in keep- 
ing the lot on the marble table as long as pos- 
sible. This kept them cold. The one that was 
passed from hand to hand and marked grew 
heated from its contact with warm flesh, and 
as the metal retains heat for several minutes, 
it was easy for Uncle Bob, although blind- 
folded, to detect the warm coin among the cold 
ones. 

The other trick was one of the sort Fred called 
frauds. Although the children spoke different 
names, Uncle Bob wrote "George Washington" 
on every slip. Thus, the paper taken from the 
hat was sure to contain that name. Then, when 
he left the room apparently to get the papers, he 
wrote on his arm the name, using for a pen a 
wooden toothpick dipped in milk. This dried 
immediately and was invisible, and when later 
he rubbed the ashes on it, it suddenly appeared 
in black letters. Each time it was of course 
necessary to provide fresh papers and write a 
new name in milk on his arm. 
[133] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

"But suppose no one had said George Wash- 
ington," said Fred, as he thought it over. 

"There never yet was a crowd of people who 
would omit that name from a list of famous 
Americans," said Uncle Bob. "Then the other 
times I fixed upon other popular heroes, and if 
the names had not been mentioned at first I 
should have kept on asking for more names until 
they were chosen. As to the writing in milk, 
that's a good trick, because if done carefully it 
never fails." 



[134] 



XXI 

IN WHICH UNCLE BOB USES KINDERGARTEN BALLS 
AND EMPTY BOXES FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF 
AN AMUSING ILLUSION. 



I 



/ / "^ 'M glad we're having such a long storm," 

said Lucy, looking contentedly out 

of the window at the pouring rain; 

"it gives us so many days to have fun 

with Uncle Bob. What's the game to-day, 

uncle?" 

"Well, you children seem to think my supply 
of tricks is inexhaustible. However, I guess I 
can provide you with a few more." 

"Give us something different, won't you?" 
asked Fred. "I mean not cards or dominoes or 
mental calculations, but something altogether 
new." 

"Why, Fred," said Lucy, "you can't do a trick 
without something to do it with." 
[135] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

"I know of a good parlor trick," said Uncle 
Bob thoughtfully. "It's a first-rate one, but 
you'll have to hunt around for some things to do 
it with." 

"What sort of things?" asked Lucy eagerly. 

"Oh, nothing difficult to procure. First you 
must get three empty boxes with covers." 

"How's this?" said Fred, dumping out a few 
last bits of candy and holding up the empty 
box. 

"That's all right for one," returned Uncle Bob. 

The checker box and the "parcheesi" box were 
quickly emptied, and thus three were provided. 

"Now, mark them A, B and C," went on Uncle 
Bob, and the letters were penciled on the boxes. 

"Now get three little things that are red, white 
and blue, one of each." 

"Why, here are baby's kindergarten balls," 
said Lucy. "Will they do?" 

"The very thing. Just take the red, white and 
blue ones. Leave the others out. Now we need 
only twenty-four counters of some sort. Have 
you any handy?" 

"Oh yes, here are the lotto counters." 
[ 136 ] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

"They're all right. Or twenty-four checkers 
would have done as well. Now we'll begin. Set 
your three boxes in a row on the table — ^A, B and 
C. Now, while I close my eyes and turn my 
back to you, put one ball in each box and close 
the boxes." 

The children put the blue ball in box A, the 
red ball in box B, and the white ball in box C. 

"Very well," said Uncle Bob, still keeping his 
back turned. "Now, in the box with the red ball 
place one counter, in the box with the white ball 
place two counters, and in the box with the blue 
ball place three counters." 

This order was carefully executed. 

"Next," went on the instructor, still not turn- 
ing around, "listen carefully and make no mis- 
take. In box A put as many counters as are 
there already, in box B put twice as many 
counters as are there already, and in box C 
put four times as many counters as are there 
already. 

Lucy and Fred did exactly as they were told. 

"Are the boxes tightly closed?" asked Uncle 
Bob. 

[ 137 ] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

On being told they were, he opened his eyes, 
turned around and walked to the table. 

"The blue ball is in box A," he said, "the red 
ball is in box B, and the white ball is in 
box C." 

"Well!" exclaimed Lucy, "it's worth getting 
boxes and balls together to learn such a trick as 
that ! Please do it again." 

Again and again they tried it, putting the balls 
in different boxes each time. 

Every time the directions as to the counters 
were the same. Every time, when they had fin- 
ished obeying the directions. Uncle Bob came 
back to the table, gazed at the tightly covered 
boxes and announced which ball was in each. 

"I believe you see them through the paste- 
board!'' said Fred. 

"No, my eyes aren't X-rays," returned his 
uncle. "But I'll tell you how to do it — only I 
warn you the explanation is more complicated 
than the trick. It all depends on this formula, 
which you may have with you on a bit of paper 
and can look at while you are turned away from 
the table or may commit to memory. The trick 
[138] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

is much more effective if you can manage it with- 
out looking at your paper. This is the formula: 

Red White 

1 A B 

2 B A 

3 A C 

5.... B O 

6 A 

7 C B 

"This is the explanation of the formula : The 
key of the solution is the number of counters re- 
maining on the table after the designated ones 
have been placed in the boxes. 

"You see, I always opened my eyes and turned 
back to the table before I announced which boxes 
contained the balls. Of course I could not see 
into the closed boxes, but I gathered my informa- 
tion from the counters on the table left out of 
the twenty-four. There will always be left either 
one, two, three, five, six or seven. By means of 
the formula we know that if one counter is left 
on the table, the red ball is in A and the white in 
B ; if two counters are left, the red ball is in B 
and the white in A ; if three are left, the red is in 
[139] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

A and the white in C ; and so on. The blue ball 
is not considered in the formula, because, having 
learned the position of the red and white balls, 
the blue one is of course in the other box. The 
formula is not difficult to learn, and a little prac- 
tice will make you adept at the game.'' 



[140] 



XXII 

IN WHICH UNCLE BOB DEVISES AN ART EXHIBITION 
TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE NEW SCHOOL 
BUILDING. 



/ / "W— ^EAR Uncle Bob," said Lucy, as she 

I ■ came hesitatingly into his study, 

m ^ "we want to give an entertainment 

of some sort, to raise money for a 

new school library." 

"But I won't give an entertainment for that 
purpose," said Uncle Bob. "I don't mind doing 
tricks for you two, and occasionally a few of 
your young friends, but I refuse to conduct a 
public exhibition." 

"We didn't mean that, Uncle," said Lucy ; "but 
we thought maybe you could give us some idea 
for an evening's pleasure, and we could arrange 
it ourselves." 

"Well, now, I might do that," agreed Uncle 
[141] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

Bob, as he stroked his beard thoughtfully. "How 
would this plan do?" 

In a few minutes the three heads were in close 
confabulation, and Fred was covering sheets of 
paper with notes and suggestions which his uncle 
gave him. Then the two delighted children ran 
away to begin on their part of the work; and a 
week or two later the result of their labors was 
set forth in the following printed circular: 

"American Art Lovers! Why cross the sea 
to visit foreign art galleries, when you have here 
in your own town a stupendous collection of 
works of art? Why suiter the hardships of an 
ocean voyage, when for twenty-five cents you can 
walk in to see the invaluable array of pictures 
and statuary now on exhibition in the town hall? 
Some of these are entirely original works of art, 
some are world famous subjects reproduced by a 
new process. These gems of art are not for sale, 
but will be on exhibition this evening. Art stu- 
dents are welcome to copy the pictures if they 
wish to do so. Catalogues free." 

The catalogue, which was also neatly printed, 
was as follows : 

[142] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

FIGURES 

1. The Man with the Hoe. 

2. The Sower. 

3. The Old Colonel. 

4. Sweet Sixteen. 

5. Visions of Old Age. 

6. The Water Carrier. 

7. Maid of Orleans. 

8. TheSketcher. 

9. Rose of Castile. 

10. Babes in the Wood. 

LANDSCAPES 

11. View of Long Branch. 

12. The Early Home of Theodore Roosevelt. 

13. Down on the Suwanee River. 

14. A Yard of Sweet Peas. 

15. The Break of Day. 

16. A Heaven on Earth. 

17. View of the Interior of China. 

18. A Japanese Landscape. 

19. Out for the Night. 

[143] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

20. A Drive in the Wood. 

21. Beautiful Spring. 

22. Scene in a Prison. 

23. An Irish City. 

24. A Bad Spell of Weather. 

25. Partial View of Our River. 

26. View of Old Cologne. 

27. Some Ruins in China. 

MISCELLANEOUS 

28. Reflection. 

29. Shells of the Ocean. 

30. The Death of the Camel. 

31. Saved! 

32. Scraps of Comfort. 

33. A Good Driver. 

34. Falling Dew. 

35. Old Times. 

36. A Fruit Piece. 

37. Never Too Late to Mend. 

38. A Cause for Tears. 

39. Just for To-day. 

40. True to the Core. 

[ 144 ] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

41. Paradise Lost. 

42. Horse Fair. 

43. The Fancy Ball. 

44. Game Piece. 

45. True Blue. 

46. Still Life. 

47. Common Swallows. 

48. The Night Watch. 

49. The Maine Under Water. 

50. No Cross, No Crown. 

PORTEAITS 

51. Queen Victoria. 

52. George Washington. 

53. Mark Twain. 

54. Bill Nye. 

55. Euskin. 

56. Shelley. 

57. Turner. 

58. Bacon. 

59. Burns. 

60. Eusebius. 

61. Lo, the Poor Indian. 

[ 145 ] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

62. Members of the Bar. 

63. The Flower of the Family. 

STATUARY 

64. A Marble Bust. 

65. A Plaster Cast. 

66. Kids at Best. 

67. Bust of Plato. 

68. Bust of Our Next President. 

69. A Perfect Foot. 

70. The Four Seasons. 

71. Ananias and Sapphira. 

72. The Great Solitaire Diamond. 

73. Cain and Abel. 

74. Poor Old Tray. 

75. The Scorcher. 

76. The Athlete. 

77. A Column of Greece. 

The representations that corresponded to these 
high sounding names were as follows : 

1. Picture of a man eating "H-0." 

2. A needle. / 

[146] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

3. An old, hard grain of yellow corn. 

4. Sixteen bits of candy. 

5. A pair of spectacles. 

6. A pail. 

7. Some molasses or molasses candy. 

8. A lead pencil. 

9. Two rows of cakes of Castile soap. 

10. Two wooden dolls. 

11. A long branch of a tree. 

12. A cradle. 

13. Some swansdown laid on a map of Georgia, 
which shows the Suwanee River. 

14. Make a lot of P's out of cooky dough or 
candy, and lay them in a row a yard long. 

15. Cut D-A-Y in pasteboard letters, and then 
break them up, but arrange them so they can be 
read. 

16. Make a little mound of earth, and on it lay 
a card on which is written "Heaven," or an astro- 
nomical map of the heavens. 

17. A china pitcher, tipped forward so the in- 
side may be seen. 

18. A Japanese fan with a gay landscape on it. 

19. A lamp or candle extinguished. 

[147] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

20. A nail driven in a piece of wood. 

21. A large steel spring, gilded. 

23. A cork. 

22. A mouse trap, containing a bit of cheese. 

24. A card on which is printed W-H-E-A- 
T-H-E-E. 

25. A glass of water. 

26. An old bottle of cologne. 

27. Some broken dishes. 

28. A mirror. 

29. Some clam shells. 

30. A straw. 

31. A penny. 

32. The word "comfort" printed on a card, 
and then torn in scraps, but still legible. 

33. A screw driver. 

34. A promissory note, dated to fall due the 
day after the exhibition. 

35. An old copy of "The Times." 

36. A section of apple or orange. 

37. A very old, patched apron. 

38. An onion. 

39. A leaf torn from the daily calendar. 

40. A sound, red apple. 

[ 148] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

41. An empty dice box. 

42. Oats and hay. 

43. An infant's ball made of gay worsteds. 

44. A checker, or chessman. 

45. A bottle of bluing. 

46. A copy of "Life." 

47. A glass of water, containing only a few 
swallows. 

48. A watch set at twelve o'clock. 

49. A map of Maine in a saucer of water. ^^ 

50. A blank card. 

51. An English coin or postage stamp. 

52. An American two-cent stamp. 

53. Two parallel marks on a card. 

54. A bank bill and the letter I. 

55. A box with a rusk in it. 

56. A crab or lobster. 

57. A tin cake turner. 

58. Some bacon. 

59. A bit of paper or cloth which has several 
burns in it. 

60. A pair of eyeglasses. 

61. A heap of Indian meal. 

62. A long bar of soap, cut in several pieces. 

[149] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

63. Some flour. 

64. A common marble, broken in two. 

65. A plaster, carelessly cast on the table. 

66. Two kid gloves. 

67. A broken plate and a large letter O. 

68. A plaster bust so broken up as to render 
the features undiscernible. 

69. A twelve-inch rule. 

70. Pepper, salt, vinegar, and mustard. 

71. Two lyres. 

72. The ace of diamonds. 

73. A cane and a bell. 

74. An old teatray. 

75. A flatiron. 

76. A common glass tumbler,; 

77. A candle. 



[ 150 1 



XXIII 

IN WHICH UNCLE BOB PROVIDES SOME VALUABLE 
RELICS AT VERY SMALL COST. 



N 



/ / "^k "T OW Lucy, sit down at the table, here, 
and I'll tell you what I've brought 
you as souvenirs of my trip," said 
Uncle Bob after a month's absence. 
"Presents !" cried Fred. "Oh, goody !" 
"Yes, presents," said his uncle; "but as they 
are more valuable gifts than I usually bring you, 
you must hear a description of them first. You 
know, children, you are growing up, and al- 
though dolls and humming tops do very well for 
infants, I think you are now old enough to appre- 
ciate and enjoy some real art treasures. Now, 
I'll begin by telling you that I brought your gifts, 
two for each of you. I shall describe them, and 
you can choose which you will have, before you 
see them. 

[151] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

"The first gift I shall tell you about is a work 
of art. It is a handsome plaque of rich dark 
metal. It has a head on it in bas relief, very 
beautifully formed." 

"What's the plaque made of?" asked Lucy. 

"Of metal, my dear. It looks to me like 
bronze, though it may be old copper." 

"How large is it?" asked Fred. 

"Well, you remember that plaque your mother 
has with a head of Stevenson on it, done by Saint- 
Gaudens?" 

"Yes, sir." 

"This plaque isn't so large as that, but it is an 
exquisite piece of work. The head is a type rather 
than an individual, and shows classic features 
and a noble brow 

"The next thing I have to tell you about," went 
on Uncle Bob, "is a relic of a great man. It is a 
letter that belonged to Napoleon and has never 
been opened." 

"Oh !" exclaimed Lucy, "how wonderful ! How 
did you get it, Uncle?" 

"W^ell, you know such curios are often 
offered for sale by the heirs of an estate, and 
[152] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

I felt sure such a relic would interest you chil- 
dren." 

"Yes, indeed," said Fred. "I should think it 
would interest anybody ! Did it really belong to 
Napoleon?" 

"Yes, Fred, I'm sure of it. I can tell you it 
looks pretty well — with Napoleon's name!" 

"I just guess ! If I have first choice, I'll take 
that, sure!" 

"The next thing is a portrait of President Mc- 
Kinley. It is not a common picture, but a very 
fine steel engraving. Indeed, I have never seen a 
better piece of work of that sort." 

"Steel engravings are valuable," said Lucy 
thoughtfully. "Is it framed?" 

"No; but if you wish me to, I shall have it 
framed and glazed for you, and consider that 
part of the present. 

"The fourth gift I brought home is a cat. You 
know, in foreign countries, the cats are beautiful 
and very peculiar. There is a Persian cat that 
is called blue, though it is really a steely gray. 
But I was fortunate enough to secure a lovely 
Persian kitten of an exquisite rose color, and it 
[153] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

was so unusual and so pretty that I brought it 
home with me. I bought this rose colored ribbon 
to tie round her neck, but I haven't yet had time 
to do so." As he spoke, Uncle Bob drew from 
his pocket a ribbon of a soft, lustrous pink, and 
tossed it on the table. 

"Oh, Uncle! a rose colored kitten! to match 
that ribbon! How wonderful!" cried Lucy. 
"Fred, you can have the Napoleon letter; I 
choose the cat." 

So Fred chose the letter and the engraving of 
McKinley, and Lucy chose the kitten and the has 
relief. Then Uncle Bob drew a copper cent from 
his pocket and handed it to Lucy. 

"There's your plaque," he said, and in a mo- 
ment Lucy saw the joke and shrieked with 
laughter. 

Then Uncle Bob gave Fred a postage stamp of 
the McKinley issue, and another shout of laugh- 
ter greeted this valuable gift. 

"Now for the rose colored kitten," said Uncle 
Bob, and leaving the room, he came right back 
with a lovely white Angora kitten. 

"Oh," said Lucy, who had learned some of her 
[154] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

uncle's tricks, "I know there are white roses; but 
I didn't think of them until this minute. How- 
ever, I'm quite satisfied with the color of this 
cat," and she cuddled the fluffy beauty. 

"Now for Napoleon's letter," said Fred — "and 
of course, I know it's a hoax." 

"Here it is," said Uncle Bob, and he handed 
his nephew a letter O cut out of white paste- 
board. "It belongs to Napoleon," he explained 
kindly; "indeed, there never was a Napoleon 
spelled without it ; and, as you see, it has never 
been opened." 

The children bore easily the disappointment of 
not receiving the gifts they had expected, for they 
had acquired a new lot of jokes to play on their 
young comrades. 



[155] 



PART TWO 
HOLIDAY AMUSEMENTS 



[157] 



HOW TO CELEBRATE NEW YEARNS DAY. 

LIKE the old-fashioned Puritan Sabbath, 
New Yearns Day really begins the night 
before, — or at least its celebration 
usually does. Of all plans for the ob- 
servance of the occasion, a calendar party is per- 
haps the newest and most appropriate. 

Write your invitations on cards decorated in 
any way you choose, but having a tiny calendar 
fastened in one corner, on which January 1 is 
marked around with red ink. Ask each of your 
guests to wear a costume designating his or her 
birth-month; or, if your guests be few in num- 
ber, ask each one to represent one of the twelve 
months. This is not at all difficult, as simple 
and inexpensive effects are quite as good as elab- 
orate costumes. 

[159] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

January might wear a pure white robe, 
trimmed with snowballs made of cotton batting, 
and a few crystal beads, and branches of pine as 
decorations. 

February, a gown of white lace or thin mate- 
rial, trimmed with roses and love-knots of blue 
ribbon, and a few valentines or valentine em- 
blems, such as hearts and darts, fastened here 
and there. Shoulder-knots of red, white, and 
blue ribbons may be fastened with a small framed 
portrait of Washington and Lincoln, respec- 
tively. 

March may wear a gray gown, with a gauzy 
gray scarf that blows about with every breath of 
air. Crocuses and daffodils may be worn or car- 
ried, and if out of season, may be artificial or 
paper flowers. 

April should wear a light-green gown, with 
violets, lilacs, or snowballs. She may carry both 
an umbrella and a parasol. 

May should have a dress of dainty flowered 
muslin and a wreath of rosebuds, — in fact, any 
costume suitable for a May queen. Crown and 
sceptre, if desired. 

[160] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

June, thin light-blue dress, with white gauze 
scarf and a profusion of pink roses. 

July should wear a Goddess of Liberty cos- 
tume, or a white dress with red and blue ribbons. 

August, a thin gown of a rich red or yellow 
color, wreath and garlands of poppies and wheat- 
ears. 

September, a purple or green robe, with clus- 
ters of grapes and a chaplet of grape-leaves. 
Both grapes and leaves may be made of paper, 
and fastened to vines of any sort. This costume 
may also be decorated with purple asters and 
goldenrod. 

October, lavish decorations of autumn leaves, 
sumac, and chrysanthemums. Or October, re- 
membering Hallowe'en, could be robed as a 
witch, with high-peaked hat, and a black cat on 
her shoulder. 

November, dark brown or green dress, with 
clusters of dried grasses or nuts in burrs. A 
pumpkin Jack-o'-lantern could be carried, or a 
horn of plenty. 

December is most effective in white, with 
glistening trimming, and wreaths and bunches 
[161] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

of holly tied with red ribbons. A small Christ- 
mas tree may be carried, or a bunch of mistletoe. 

Although girls and young women are usually 
glad to make and wear these costumes, boys and 
men are not often anxious to do so. But the 
masculine part of the party, though in conven- 
tional garb, may be wreathed, beflowered, berib- 
boned, or otherwise decorated to represent un- 
mistakably any desired month; or twelve boys 
could wear emblems representing or suggesting 
the twelve signs of the zodiac, or, if it be a small 
party, the four seasons. 

As it nears the hour of midnight, let the lights 
be turned low, and let some one enter personat- 
ing old Father Time. He should wear a long 
white beard, and a robe of flowing white draper- 
ies decorated with signs of the zodiac, carrying a 
scythe and hour glass, and in all possible ways 
represent Father Time as often pictured. 

Taking his position near the door, Father 
Time makes a speech regarding himself, or re- 
cites some poem referring to the flight of time, 
and then announces the departure of the old 
year. To the music of a slow funeral march, ac- 
[ 162 ] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

companied by the tolling of a bell, the Old Year 
enters and glides slowly toward the door. He is 
garbed all in black, and carries a black shield on 
his arm bearing the date of the old year in large 
white figures. He wears a white wig and long 
white beard, and moves slowly with downcast 
head. The whole scene may be in pantomime, 
or the Old Year may recite Tennyson's "Death of 
the Old Year,'' or any appropriate poem. 

Care should be taken that the end of the recita- 
tion be reached just at twelve o'clock. Then, as 
a deep-voiced gong gives out twelve slow sono- 
rous strokes, the lights are turned lower, and the 
Old Year glides away through the open door. At 
the last stroke the lights are turned up full, the 
music strikes up a merry air, horns are blown 
and bells rung gayly, and a little child, dressed to 
represent the New Year, comes dancing in. 

A fair-haired child should be chosen, dressed 
in short, fluffy white garments, with white stock- 
ings and shoes. If desired, he may wear white 
wings, made of gauze or fringed tissue paper. 
( If this be done, the Old Year should wear long 
drooping black wings. ) The little one carries a 
[163] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

white banner, inscribed with, the date of the new 
year in gilt figures, and may sing or recite any of 
the numerous poems appropriate to the occasion. 
As a pastime for a New Year's party, each 
guest may be given a paper and pencil and in- 
vited to write a "Good Resolution." The papers 
are then collected, and read aloud, the listeners 
guessing who wrote each in turn. Prizes may 
be offered for the greatest number of correct 
guesses. Of course, the "Resolutions" will be 
comical rather than serious. As a parting souve- 
nir, each guest may be presented with a box of 
dates, prettily tied with a ribbon, and marked 
with the date of the party. 



[164] 



II 

HOW TO CELEBRATE ST. VALENTINE^S DAY. 

ANY one who has time, patience, and a 
habit of neatness may make quite as 
pretty valentines as are sold in the 
shops, and at a much smaller expense. 
And, too, there is lots of fun to be had making 
one's own valentines, and they are often far 
more acceptable than the ready-made affairs. 

For lace-paper valentines, use as a foundation 
the round lace-paper mats sold by caterers, or 
the oblong lace-papers which are found in boxes 
of bonbons or fancy biscuit. Mount these op 
sheets of stiff white or colored paper, and deco- 
rate them with scrap-pictures of flowers, birds, 
or children's faces. The effect of these faces may 
be improved by pasting them on with a spring , 
which is made of a narrow strip of paper folded 
back and forth a few times. 
[165] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

On the inside or white paper sheet write a 
verse or couplet which you may copy from old 
valentines or find in any book of quotations. 

Other kinds of valentines may be made from 
fine Bristol board cards, either rectangular in 
shape or cut into fancy forms, such as hearts, 
fans, or clover leaves. Or plain cards may be 
scored half through with a penknife, and so made 
to open like a book. Two scorings, equidistant 
from either end, will make the card open like a 
pair of window-blinds, leaving, when open, three 
panels to be decorated with painting, gilding, 
pictures, or verses. A ribbon is tied round the 
whole affair when closed. 

A funny one is made by writing on a decorated 
card, 

"My Valentine is lubly, oh, 

I tell you I jes' lub her; 
An' if you'd like her name to know, 

Unfold dis card, and ^" 

On unfolding the lower end of the card a 
small rubber band is seen, fastened on by a stitch 
or a bit of paste. 

[166] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

Glove or handkerchief sachets are pretty val- 
entines, and may be made of ordinary envelopes, 
colored or white, square or long, decorated with 
drawing, painting, or gilding, and tied about 
with ribbon. In them must be placed a bit of 
cotton wadding, cut to fit the envelope, and 
sprinkled with violet powder. All of these 
homemade valentines are especially desirable at 
a Valentine party, than which there is no prettier 
entertainment. 

For such a party the rooms should be deco- 
rated with as many emblems of the day as pos- 
sible. 

Wreaths and garlands of roses, tied with long 
floating blue ribbons, should be hung on walls, 
pictures and chandeliers. As a profusion of 
natural flowers is not available in February, the 
roses and their green leaves can be beautifully 
made of tissue paper. An easy way is to cut a 
strip of paper about two inches wide by ten 
inches long. Fold this up until square, then cut 
the folded piece half way through the middle in 
the same direction of the folds. When this is 
unfolded it will be a series of square scallops. 
[167] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

With a knife or scissors blade curl the square 
corners outward, and roll up the whole strip 
rather loosely. Twist up the lower end, and with 
a little adjusting the paper will represent a love- 
ly rosebud. 

Have also red or gilt paper hearts and darts, 
pictures or images of Cupid, toy doves, and love- 
knots of blue ribbon, and your blue ribbon may 
be strips of blue tissue paper. 

To entertain your guests, let some boy per- 
sonate St. Valentine. 

He should wear a white flowing beard and 
wig, and a large halo of gilt paper. 

His robe may be of white cheese cloth, dotted 
all over with red hearts, some of them pierced by 
darts. 

St. Valentine should carry a postman's bag, or 
a large pouch of any kind, filled with valentines, 
which he distributes to all. 

If desired, he may be accompanied by a small 
child representing Cupid. The child should 
wear long white stockings and white shoes, a 
short fluffy white dress with low neck and short 
sleeves, a broad blue sash tied across the shoulder 
[168] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

and a pair of pretty wings, and should carry a 
gilded bow and arrow, with a quiver slung at his 
back. 

Cupid should assist St. Valentine in distrib- 
uting the missives, and he might recite any of the 
dainty little poems which have been written for 
the day. 

A Valentine Hunt is a capital game, and con- 
sists in the hostess' having previously concealed 
valentines in every possible place: in books or 
magazines, under sofa-cushions, behind doors or 
pictures, behind window curtains, in letter-racks, 
under chairs and tables, — in fact, everywhere 
that the envelopes may be concealed or partly 
hidden. The only trouble with this game is that 
some guests get many more valentines than 
others; but if the valentines are plentiful (and if 
homemade, — they may easily be), there will be 
enough for all. If desired, a pretty valentine 
may be awarded to the one finding the fewest. 



[169]' 



Ill 

HOW TO CELEBRATE WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY 

THE celebration of Washington's Birthday 
should always be attended by joyous- 
ness, merry-making, and good cheer. 
For a club of young people a "Wash- 
ington Eeception'' provides an entertainment 
that may be as large or small, as elaborate or 
simple, as you wish, and yet be pleasant and at- 
tractive, r 

President Washington was in the habit of 
holding stately and formal receptions at his Phil- 
adelphia home, and in the matter of costume and 
appointments these receptions may be read about 
and imitated more or less closely. 

Decorate your clubroom or hall with patriotic 
emblems of all sorts. 

Let portraits of George and Martha Washing- 
ton hold prominent positions and a large por- 
[170] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

trait of the President may be draped with silk 
flags, and show on either side the dates of his 
birth and death. 

Beneath arrange a gilt-lettered legend, "First 
in War, First in Peace, and First in the Hearts 
of His Countrymen." 

Let evergreens, immortelles, flags, bunting, 
banners, flowers abound and if possible, secure 
an old steel engraving of the Declaration of In- 
dependence, or scenes from Washington's life. 

Two members of the club should be chosen to 
represent George Washington and his wife, and 
should be attired in appropriate costumes. 

We are told that on the occasions of his recep- 
tions Washington was clad in black velvet; his 
hair in full dress, powdered and gathered behind 
in a large silk bag ; yellow gloves on his hands ; 
holding a cocked hat with a cockade in it, and 
the edges adorned with a black feather. He wore 
knee and shoe buckles, and a long sword, with a 
finely wrought and polished steel hilt. The scab- 
bard was white polished leather. 

Martha Washington's costume was a black vel- 
vet court train over a petticoat of quilted white 
[171] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

satin. Frilled mob-cap, lace mitts, and buckled 
shoes. 

But these costumes may easily be copied from 
pictures, and less expensive materials will suffi- 
ciently represent the velvet and satin. 

As many others as desired may also be on the 
reception committee, and should be dressed in 
the modes of Eevolutionary times. 

Let the formal programme be short and en- 
tertaining. A few songs of a national character, 
a few recitations relating to Washington and his 
achievements, a stirring patriotic address, may 
be interposed with some tableaux, or Living Por- 
traits. 

For the latter, arrange a large gilded frame 
(one may be removed from an old oil painting 
for the purpose) , so that it stands with its lower 
edge about three feet from the floor of the plat- 
form. The space around the frame must be 
draped with dark material, and there should be 
a screen of the same behind it. 

Curtains in front of the frame can be drawn 
apart to show the portrait. 

An old book of engravings will furnish plenty 
[172] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

of subjects. If you can find an elderly lady and 
gentleman whose faces are of the right type, ef- 
fective copies of the best-known portraits of 
George and Martha Washington can be made. 

Then "A Revolutionary Belle'' can easily be 
represented; "an Old Time Beau;" a "Continen- 
tal Soldier ;" or, if a humorous effect is desired, 
Washington and the cherry-tree scene. 

More elaborate scenes would be "Washington 
Crossing the Delaware," or "The Signing of the 
Declaration." 

"The Goddess of Liberty" is an appropriate 
picture, or "Columbia and Uncle Sam." 

In a side room, or curtained off in a corner, 
may be shown a loan collection of Revolutionary 
relics. Almost every community contains peo- 
ple who own and cherish such relics, and they 
should be well arranged and carefully labeled or 
numbered. 

Instead of this, an entertaining diversion is a 
Burlesque Loan Collection. 

Have catalogues printed or typewritten, set- 
ting forth the attractions of the Great Colonial 
Loan Collection. If your entertainment is for 
[173] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

the purpose of raising funds, these catalogues 
may be sold, and as an inducement to buy, an- 
nounce that a steel engraving of George Wash- 
ington will be presented to each visitor. 

To make good this offer, give each guest a two- 
cent postage stamp. Cancelled ones may be used 
if preferred. 

Suggestions for the exhibits are: 

"Early Home of George Washington." This 
represented by an old-fashioned cradle. 

"Washington Crossing the Delaware." This 
is a map of the city of Washington laid across a 
map of Delaware. 

"Down on the Suwanee Eiver" is a map of 
Georgia, which shows plainly the Suwanee Eiver, 
on which a bit of swansdown is fastened. 

"The Old Colonel" is an old dried kernel of 
corn or of a nut. 

"True Blue" is a bottle of bluing. 

"Vision of Washington's Old Age" is a pair of 
spectacles. 

"Scene in An Old-time Prison" is the oldest 
mouse-trap you can find, with a bit of cheese in 
in. "Washington's Reflections" is a triplicate 

[m] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

mirror, with a small portrait of Washington ar- 
ranged so that it will be reflected in each pane. 

"A Little Indian" is a small portion of Indian 
meal. 

"The Most Brilliant Lights of Washington's 
Era" may be represented by a few lighted can- 
dles. "The Lone Picket" is a fence picket. "The 
Tax on Tea" is shown by a few tacks on a let- 
ter T. 

"The Tax Collector" is a claw for drawing 
tacks. "An Old-time Fancy Ball" is a child's 
gay colored worsted ball, much torn. "The Last 
of the Army" is the letter y. "A Member of 
Washington's Cabinet" is a brass handle off an 
old cabinet. 

"The Old Times and the New," an old copy of 
a paper called "The Times" and a new one. "A 
Survivor of the Revolution," an old American 
coin, dated during or before the Revolutionary 
War. "Washington At One Hundred Years of 
Age" is a map or view of the city of Washington. 

Lack of space prevents more detailed direc- 
tions, but these suggestions may be enlarged 
upon until a good-sized exhibition is formed. 
[ 175 ] 



IV 

HOW TO CELEBRATE APRIL FOOL^S DAY 

APAETY on the First of April affords a 
wide scope for good-natured fooling. 
Let the guests be invited to arrive 
at a certain hour, and at that time 
have your house closed, curtains drawn, 
and shades pulled down. When they ring 
the bell, let the person who admits them 
act as if they were unexpected, and usher 
them into the parlor, where no host or 
hostess awaits them. After they are thoroughly 
mystified, you may enter the parlor, call out 
"April Fool" and greet them cordially. Some 
one should keep watch from behind a window- 
curtain, lest any, deterred by the unhospitable- 
looking house, should turn back toward home. 
In such case, open the door and call out, "April 
Fool ! Come in !" 

[176] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

Let the rooms be decorated with paper or ar- 
tificial flowers; an imitation fire in the grate, 
made of red paper, red tinsel, such as is used on 
Christmas trees ; and in every way possible rep- 
resent real articles by imitations. 

If a costume party is desired, guests may come 
attired as "Folly," Court Jesters, or in represen- 
tation of the celebrated Fools of Shakespeare or 
other authors. Or the garb of a Simple Simon 
or a plain rustic girl or boy can be made 
effective. 

The entertainment must consist in fooling the 
guests as frequently as possible, but this must 
be done judiciously, as, if overdone, too much sus- 
picion will be aroused. 

If it can be arranged, a mock telegram an- 
nouncing some extraordinary occurrence, may be 
brought to one of the guests by the regular mes- 
senger. Or the postman can bring a letter for 
guest or host, which on being read aloud creates 
great surprise or consternation. If there is a 
telephone in the house arrange to have a guest 
called up only to receive a burlesque message, or 
an "April Fool!" 

[ 177 ] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

Such jests as these must be adroitly planned 
and carried out, or their fun will always fall 
flat. 

The feast on April FooPs Day is another op- 
portunity for jokes. 

Pretty name-cards may be made, to designate 
the guests' places at table, by painting a cap and 
bells, or jester's bauble on a plain white card. 
On these cards write names of historic person- 
ages, characters of fiction, or citizens of your 
town who are not bidden to your party. Each 
guest, therefore, is unable to find his or her name, 
and is at a loss where to sit, when the hostess 
cries "April Fool! Look on the other side!'' 
And on the back of the cards are found the 
guests' names. 

The viands should be unexpected, but always 
edible. Salt in a cup of tea, or the old-fashioned 
"cotton doughnut" are not graceful or acceptable 
jests. 

Instead, make sandwiches with sliced bananas 

for filling, or serve clear tea as bouillon, or make 

clam fritters to look like doughnuts, or bits of 

bread, frosted, to look like cake. In a word, let 

[178] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

your guests be fooled by unexpected tastes, but 
not unpalatable ones. 

The April Fool candies now sold in the shops 
are permissible, and the skillfully manufactured 
fruits and vegetables make very pretty favors or 
decorations. 

Anyone at all clever with her needle can make 
apples, bananas, pumpkins and grapes, by form- 
ing the fruit of cottonwool and covering it with 
a thin silk of the proper tint, touched up a little 
with water-color paints. 

There are many games suited to an April Fool 
party. 

"One of the best is called "It," and if there be 
one guest unfamiliar with the game, let him re- 
tire from the room while it is explained to the 
others. He is then called and bidden to ask ques- 
tions of each player, with a view to guessing 
what "It" is. 

He is also strictly limited to questions that 
may be answered by yes or no. 

Now "It" represents each player's right-hand 
neighbor, as they all sit in a circle. Hence "It" 
is a different person in each person's mind, and 
[179] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

the answers to the questions are very confusing. 
For instance: "Is it a woman?" "Yes." "Can 
it vote?" "Yes." "Is it over eight years old?" 
"No," would all be possible and truthful answers, 
for each one responds as to his right-hand neigh- 
bor. 

Ai^other good game is "Electricity." 
About half of the players should be let into 
the secret beforehand. One of their number is 
sent from the room and the rest decide upon some 
simple object. The player is recalled, and he is 
told that an object has been selected, and if he 
will join the circle they will all join hands, and 
by sitting very still and thinking of only that ob- 
ject, the thought transferred will impress the 
name of it on his brain. All join hands and sit 
quietly, when soon the guesser announces the 
name of the object, to the great surprise of the 
uninitiated. The secret is that the guesser sits 
next to another of the conspirators, who, unno- 
ticed by the rest, presses his hand, one for A, 
twice for B and so on until the word is spelled 
out for him. A pause is made between the let- 
ters and a responsive pressure from the guesser 
[ 180 ] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

bids the teller continue. To those who have never 
seen it done before, this is a startling procedure, 
and may be explained by learned references to 
psychology, etc. 

If a game is played where prizes are offered, 
you may allow the successful competitor to make 
a choice of a bronze placque with an antique head 
in bas-relief; a steel engraving of King Edward 
VII., and a diamond pin. 

If the first is chosen, present a penny ; for the 
second, an English postage stamp ; for the third, 
a dime and pin ! 



[ 181 T 



HOW TO CELEBRATE MEMORIAL DAY 

THE observance of Memorial Day is not a 
celebration, but an occasion of reveren- 
tial remembrance of our Nation's dead 
heroes. It is, therefore, entirely fitting 
for a school, a class or a club of young persons 
to prepare a serious and dignified program of 
exercises appropriate to the day. But though 
the spirit of the occasion be solemn, it is not 
necessarily sombre or gloomy. 

The room may be beautifully decorated with 
flags, bunting and flowers; shields may be made 
of pasteboard and covered with gilt or silver 
paper, or with red, white and blue. Wreaths of 
laurel, evergreen or immortelles should abound 
and may be tied with white, purple or tricolored 
streamers. Portraits of war heroes, draped or 
garlanded, military relics and tattered battle- 
[182] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

flags all lend beauty and dignity to the general 
effect. 

The platform for the use of the speakers should 
be made attractive with the largest flags and 
the finest flowers, and the tolling of the school- 
house bell should announce the beginning of the 
program. 

If convenient, invite the members of the Grand 
Army of the Republic of your town to attend in 
a body. The veterans of the Civil war are becom- 
ing fewer each year, and all possible honor and 
courtesy should be shown them. 

Have all the singing possible; not only cho- 
ruses, but solos, duets and quartets. "John 
Brown's Body" and "Dixie'' are familiar to all, 
and many other campaign songs are inspiring 
and patriotic. Essays and orations are in order, 
but they should be short and pithy, rather than 
long and prosy. One or two bits of personal ex- 
perience from the veterans will be gladly lis- 
tened to. 

Appropriate recitations are so numerous and 
so easily found, it is almost needless to mention 
any by name; but "The Cavalry Song," by E. C. 
[183] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

Stedman; "The Blue and the Gray," by F. M. 
Finch ; "The Sleeping Sentinel," by Francis D. 
Janvier; "Farragut," by Charles DeKay; and 
"On Board the Cumberland," by George H. 
Boker, are well adapted for use at this time. A 
fine contrast is shown by the recitation of the 
poem "Sheridan's Eide," by T. B. Read, fol- 
lowed by Sheridan's own modest account of the 
same ride, as found in his Personal Memoirs, 
Vol. II. 

A good exercise is an Historic Roll-call. As- 
sign to various pupils the names of Lincoln, 
Grant, Sherman, Sheridan, Lee, Jackson, McClel- 
lan, Farragut, Meade, etc., and when the roll of 
these names is called, let the response be a short 
selection from the speeches of the heroes, or 
quotations from ecomiums which have been writ- 
ten upon them. Another exercise is a descrip- 
tion of the events which led to the War of the 
Rebellion. 

Let ten pupils prepare very brief accounts of 
the following events : 

1619. — Negro slavery introduced into Vir- 
ginia. 

[184] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

1789. — The Constitution left it uncertain 
whether slavery should be abolished. 

1793. — Invention of cotton-gin, making slave 
labor profitable in the South. 

1820. — Missouri Compromise. 

1881. — Garrison published Liberator, 

1850. — Omnibus bill and fugitive slave law. 

1852. — Unele Tom's Cabin published. 

1854. — Kansas-Nebraska bill. 

1857. — Dred Scott decision. 

1859. — John Brown's raid. 

These can be rendered very interesting if told 
in crisp, bright way by wideawake young people. 
For little children a Flag Drill is easily ar- 
ranged. The children should be dressed in white 
and carry flags of a uniform size. The motions, 
in time to spirited music, may be simple or elabo- 
rate, as you choose. A novel variation is to let 
every alternate child carry a wreath. 

If more picturesque entertainment be desired, 
a series of War Pictures may be given. An or- 
dinary draw-curtain may be used, but a more 
effective way is to arrange a tightly drawn screen 
of black cambric, in the middle of which is cut a 
[185] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

round hole about eight feet across. In front of 
this are the draw-curtains, and when they are 
parted the picture is shown as in a round frame. 

The curtains may be drawn by two figures rep- 
resenting "War" and "Peace," the former a dark- 
haired girl or boy, in black robes, with helmet 
and sword; Peace, a fair-haired girl in filmy 
white gown, with wings, gilt crown, or olive- 
wreath, and a white dove resting on her shoulder. 

The tableaux represented may be copies of any 
pictures illustrating scenes of the war. "The 
Soldier's Farewell" can be given in various ways ; 
that is, the departing soldier may be bidding 
good-by to his mother, or to his sweetheart, or to 
his wife and child, according to the characters 
you have at your disposal. "The Drummer Boy," 
"The Picket Guard," "The Sentinel," "In the 
Hospital," "A Cabin in Dixie," are all easily 
arranged. 

A more pretentious tableau is "Tenting on the 
Old Camp-Ground." 

The camping ground is represented as faith- 
fully as possible, and a number of boys in sol- 
diers' uniform are grouped about in picturesque 
[186] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

attitudes. To a piano accompaniment they soft- 
ly sing "Tenting To-night on the Old Camp 
Ground." 

The programme should close with the reading 
of the Emancipation Proclamation, and the sing- 
ing of "America." 



[ 187 ] 



VI 



HOW TO CELEBRATE ARBOR DAY 

AEBOK-DAY exercises in a school or 
class should consist of a short pro* 
gramme in the schoolroom, followed 
by a tree-planting with appropriate 
exercises in the open air. 

Let the program begin with a song, followed 
by a Scripture reading, which, instead of a con- 
secutive chapter, should be various Bible texts 
referring to trees. Genesis, the Psalms, the 
Proverbs, and the Eevelation offer many beauti- 
ful portions. 

The reading of the law establishing Arbor-Day 
should come next, and a short description of the 
need of such an institution, and the good it has 
already done and will yet do. 

After this might come quotations by various 
[188] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

pupils. Let these be selected from the works of 
the best authors, and many may be found in the 
large classified collections of poetical quotations. 

Shakespeare, Addison, Irving, all the great 
New England poets, and many modern writers, 
offer distinctly quotable passages regarding 
trees. 

"The Champion Tree" is a pleasant and en- 
terprising exercise. 

Let a young girl represent the goddess Flora. 
She may be simply attired in a white dress, with 
flowers in her hair ; or elaborately costumed as a 
wood-nymph, with flowing white draperies and 
wreaths and garlands of flowers. If desired, she 
may have pages or attendants profusely decked 
with flowers, and a throne under a floral bower 
or canopy. 

To her, pleading their claims, come the various 
trees. 

As it is difficult to represent the different trees 
effectively, let each pupil be garbed in a uniform 
of green, with a wreath and other decorations of 
any leaves that may be available. 

The fruit-trees may wear blossoms, and the oak 
[189] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

and maple can have leaves cut from paper in the 
proper shapes. 

The evergreen can, of course, procure distinc- 
tive decorations, and each pupil will doubtless 
take pleasure in exercising his or her ingenuity 
regarding the tree represented. 

As the trees, one by one, approach the Goddess, 
after former salutation, each sets forth its claims 
to the Championship. The Forest Trees plead 
their great value for building purposes, fuel, fur- 
niture, etc. Shade Trees tell of their beauty and 
use. Fruit Trees expatiate on their valuable 
foods. 

After all are heard. Flora, in a short speech, 
declares one or other to be the Champion tree. 
The choice will probably fall on the oak or the 
elm, but it is at the discretion of the class. 

"Historic Trees" is another interesting exer- 
cise. 

Let various pupils prepare, or, at least, read, 
short descriptions of the following trees : 

The Charter Oak, the Royal Oak, the Treaty 
Elm, the Washington Elm, Old Liberty Elm, the 
Burgoyne elm, ash trees planted by Washington 
[190] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

at Mt. Vernon, Newton's Apple Tree, Washing- 
ton's Cherry Tree, the Pine Tree of the "Pine 
Tree Shillings;" the giant trees of California. 

This list is merely suggestive, and a little re- 
search will result in a longer one if desired. The 
descriptions may be copied from reference books, 
but it is a better plan to have them rewritten in 
the pupils' own language, care being taken to 
keep the essays short. 

After the schoolroom program, let the audi- 
ence adjourn to the place where the tree is to be 
planted. Of course, everything must have been 
made ready beforehand, and after the visitors 
are in the place assigned to them, let the pupils 
march out, singing. Many songs have been writ- 
ten purposely for Arbor Day, and can probably 
be procured from your State Superintendent of 
Education. 

It is usual at these formal plantings to dedi- 
cate the tree to some particular person. This 
should be announced by the teacher or by some 
chosen pupil in a short address, and then let the 
tree be carefully placed in position. 

Again a few quotations are appropriate, or a 

[ 191 ] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

song, and then let all the pupils, or a chosen few, 
throw spadefuls of earth on the roots of the 
trees, superintended by some one experienced in 
tree-planting. 

A metal or wooden tag, with the name of the 
tree, the date, and the name of the one to whom 
the tree is dedicated, may then be fastened to one 
of the branches, and a song completes the cere- 
mony. 

If a bit of fun is desirable after the more seri- 
ous exercises, the following quaint old puzzle 
may be read aloud, and pupils and guests invited 
to guess the answers. A prize, made of wood, 
may be offered to the successful competitor: 

1. What's the double tree? 

2. And the dancing tree? 

3. And the tree that is nearest the sea? 

4. The dandiest tree? 

5. The kissable tree?/ 

6. And the tree where the ships may be? 

7. What's the tell-tale tree? 

8. And the traitor's tree? 

9. And the tree that's the warmest clad? 
10. The languishing tree? 

[ 192 ] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

11. The chronologist's tree? 
^12. And the tree that makes us sad? 
13. The contemptible tree? 
;14. The most yielding tree? 

15. And what each must become ere he's old? 

16. The tree in a bottle? 
vl7. The tree of the people? 

18. And the tree which the schoolmasters 
hold? 

19. What's the tree that says "travel"? 
V^O. The tree that says "live?" 

21. And the tree that has passed through the 
heat? 
2^1. The housewife's tree? 

23. The Egyptian-plague tree? 

24. And the tree we give friends when we 
meet? 

Answers: 1, Pear. 2, Caper. 3, Beech. 4, 
Spruce. 5, Tulip, or Yew. 6, Bay. 7, Peach. 
8, Judas-tree. 9, Fir. 10, Pine. 11, Date. 
12, Weeping-willow. 13, Medlar. 14, India 
rubber. 15, Elder. 16, Cork. 17, Poplar. 18, 
Birch. 19, Orange. 20, Olive. 21, Ash. 22, 
Broom. 23, Locust. 24, Palm. 

[193] 



VII 

HOW TO CELEBRATE THE FOURTH OF JULY 

AN attractive novelty for a Fourth of 
July entertainment is a Columbia Ee- 
ception. 

This may be a private party of in- 
vited guests, or a public affair for the purpose of 
adding funds to the school or Sunday-school 
treasury. 

The reception must be held at a pleasant home 
or club-house with wide verandas and spacious 
grounds. Invitations (or tickets) should be is- 
sued, adorned with printed flags, and lettered in 
red and blue. 

They should read : 

COLUMBIA AND UNCLE SAM 

AT HOME 

JULY FOURTH 

the address and hours of the reception to follow, 
[194] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

Preparations for the event should begin with 
decorating the house inside and out, and the 
grounds, with flags and bunting. Let the tricolor 
appear everywhere. Drape the pillars, festoon 
the verandas, tie bows on the chairs, flags on 
the sofas, and stick little and big flags among the 
trees and shrubbery. Sling as many hammocks 
as you can get, and adorn them with bunting- 
covered pillows. Hang Chinese lanterns of red, 
white and blue on the piazzas and the trees, and 
make large transparencies bearing the dates 1776 
and the present year. 

Let flowers and greens take their part in the 
scheme of decoration; throw open the whole 
house, and in various rooms place canaries in 
gilded cages, or music-boxes playing national 
airs. 

In the parlor, or the veranda, or wherever 
seems the most desirable place, let Columbia and 
Uncle Sam stand to receive their guests. 

Columbia must wear the regulation Goddess 
of Liberty costume, and Uncle Sam, who should 
be represented by a tall, slim youth, must be at- 
tired as he is always shown in cartoons. 
[195] 



RAINYi DAY DIVERSIONS 

These two (supposing the reception to be a 
public one) must be chosen both for their physi- 
cal likeness to the characters represented, and 
also for their cordial and affable manners. 

If desired, a larger reception committee can 
be formed, and the two principals can be rein- 
forced by assistants representing other nations. 

John Bull and Britannia, a pretty little Japa- 
nese girl, a French marquise, a Spanish Don, a 
Kussian princess, a Swiss peasant, or other for- 
eigners may be easily represented. 

Abundance of entertainment must be provided. 
In the house, one room may contain books, pic- 
tures, the new magazines, current weekly and 
daily papers; in short, a well-appointed library. 

Another room should offer games of various 
sorts. Chess, checkers, cards, jackstraws, croki- 
nole, fishpond, parcheesi, etc. 

A large room shows a ping-pong table, and an- 
other is the music-room, where good performers 
play successively on various instruments. 

The verandas are given over to conversation, 
and inviting chairs and tables are arranged in 
cosy groups. 

[196] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

If money-making be the chief aim, one room 
may hold a loan collection of curios or Revolu- 
tionary relics, to which admission fee is charged. 

Out on the grounds are such games as tennis, 
croquet, and a bowling alley. A good band is 
stationed on a flag-draped platform, and national 
airs are frequently played. 

A booth or bazar displays articles of fancy- 
work for sale. 

These are all red, white and blue. Picture 
frames of silk or paper represent a flag, with an 
oval shaped opening for a photograph. Pin- 
cushions, sofa pillows, needle-books, ironing- 
holders, covered package-handles and waist- 
racks, silk bags, silk-lined baskets, pen-wipers, 
and indeed any bit of fancy-work ever invented 
may be made of red, white and blue silk or cot- 
ton material. Dolls may be dressed and pictures 
painted in the three colors. Scrapbooks may be 
made, having leaves of red, white and blue mus- 
lin, on which are pasted pictures in some way ap- 
propriate to Independence Day. 

At this booth, fireworks, flags and badges may 
be sold, and if a lot of aprons, dusters and sweep- 
[197] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

ing-caps be added, all of red, white and blue, the 
total receipts will be very apt to prove satisfac- 
tory to all concerned. 

Refreshments may be served in a tent, or at 
open-air tables. Decorate the tables with pretty 
ribbons and flowers. Do not use bunting or 
coarse material. 

Let the waitresses represent the States and 
Territories. A white dress, apron and cap ; tri- 
colored sash worn across the shoulder, and tri- 
colored rosettes on cap, slippers and apron pock- 
ets is a pretty costume. 

Lemonade may be served from "The Old Oaken 
Bucket," by a young girl in the costume of Kevo- 
lutionary times. An old-fashioned well-curb and 
sweep can be constructed by a carpenter, if he be 
given a picture of one to copy. 

An Indian wigwam may prove another lucra- 
tive attraction. 

Build it tent shape, covered with Navajo blan- 
kets or fur carriage-robes, and have several 
young people and children dressed as Indians. 

One may tell fortunes, another weave and sell 
baskets, another string and sell beads. And 
[198] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

here may be sold Indian dolls, which are made 
as follows: 

Eun a wooden skewer through two figs. One 
fig is the head and one the body of the doll. On 
the head fasten black bead eyes, a bit of red 
sealing-wax for a mouth, and pinch up the fig 
itself for a nose. 

Attach some long, straight locks of black 
horse hair, and stick into the head feathers such 
as Indians wear. 

Arms and legs are made of raisin stems and 
are stuck into the fig at the proper places. Dress 
the doll in loose red flannel trousers and coat, 
and decorate him with beads, feathers and trin- 
kets of any kind. If you wish, you may wrap 
him in an Indian blanket, and thrust a toy toma- 
hawk into his belt. An Indian squaw may be 
made in similar fashion. 

If the reception lasts into the evening, light 
the Chinese lanterns and set off fireworks. 

Columbia and Uncle Sam must be always in 
evidence, as the social success of the whole af- 
fair will depend largely on their tactful and cor- 
dial hospitality. 

[199] 



VIII 

HOW TO CELEBEATE THANKSGIVING DAY 

THANKSGIVING DAY means a family 
party. Whether father, mother and all 
the children go bundling over to grand- 
mother's, or whether the old people 
come to spend the day with their children and 
grandchildren — in any case the family must all 
be together. And so entertainments prepared 
for Thanksgiving Day must be such as may be 
enjoyed by young and old alike. 

As the day is for grateful recognition of the 
"Harvest Home," the house should be decorated 
with wheat ears, corn, bunches of grain, red pep- 
pers, and any picturesque fruits of the harvest. 
The dinner being one of the chief events of the 
day, pains should be taken to have the table pre- 
sent an attractive appearance. A novel decora- 
tion is to have as a center-piece a "Horn of 
[200] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

Plenty." This may be bought, or may be con- 
structed at home of pasteboard covered with 
gilt paper. From it should flow all sorts of 
fruits, nuts, raisins and candies. From beneath 
it a red ribbon runs to each guest's place, having 
at the end the name-card. On the other end of 
each ribbon (beneath the Horn of Plenty) is 
fastened an envelope containing a merry rhyme 
about the guest, or a small favor of some sort. 

Amusing decorations for a Thanksgiving din- 
ner-table may be made of fruits and vegetables. 
A lemon will make a capital pig, with four 
wooden toothpicks for legs, a curly tail, and 
the eyes of two black-headed pins. A horse can 
be contrived of a carrot; a fat old alderman of 
an apple, with a nut for a head; a mouse of an 
almond. 

A pretty conceit is to have at each plate a light- 
ed candle. The host announces calmly: "I 
think I shall eat my candle," and blowing out the 
light he proceeds to eat it with a relish. The 
candles are made of apple, cut with a corer, and 
the wick is made of a bit of almond, which on be- 
ing lighted will blaze for a few moments. 
[201] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

A scooped-out pumpkin may form a central 
ornament. It may be used as a fern-dish, or 
filled with fruit or flowers. Nut dolls may be 
made for favors. A small doll like a Brownie is 
made with an English walnut for a body, a hazel- 
nut head, and arms and legs of twisted wire cov- 
ered with gilt paper or tinfoil. A tiny cap is 
pasted on his head, and a flag fastened in his 
hand. 

A peanut doll is made by stringing peanuts to- 
gether endwise — one for the head, one for the 
body, two each for legs and arms. This doll is 
dressed as a Chinaman ; a queue of braided, black 
thread, round, felt hat of gray pasteboard, and 
loose garments made of a Japanese paper nap- 
kin. 

Deft fingers with a sharp knife can cut lovely 
flowers from vegetables, white roses from tur- 
nips, red roses from beets, and daisies from 
apples, with centers of yolks of hard-boiled 
eggs. 

A diverting dish is called "Sapient Salad." 
Make a quantity of green leaves of tissue-paper, 
by cutting a long, narrow strip, folding it length- 
[202] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

wise over a knitting-needle, and allowing it to 
pucker as it is drawn off. A little practice will 
enable you to make these deftly and quickly. To 
the stem of each leaf paste a slip of writing-paper 
on which is written a jest or conundrum. Let 
each guest take several leaves, and read aloud the 
messages. 

After dinner there are many games to be 
played in which old and young may join. To a 
drawing-board on an easel fasten a number of 
large sheets of blank paper. Whisper the name 
of an animal to each guest. Give each a slip of 
paper and a pencil. Now let each in turn draw 
a picture on the large papers, representing the 
animal designated. The others must guess what 
animal it is, and write the name on their lists. 
The greatest aggregate of correct guesses may re- 
ceive a prize. A blackboard may be used instead 
of papers, and this game is interesting to all, as 
often the children outstrip their elders in draw- 
ing animals. 

Another merry game is tossing bean-bags 
through a hoop. Suspend a gaily decorated hoop 
in a doorway, and the party being evenly divided, 
[203] 



BAINY. DAY DIVERSIONS 

let those on one side throw bean-bags through the 
hoop to those on the other side, who must catch 
them. Have bells on the hoop, and let a careful 
score be kept — if the bell rings, it counts less 
than a clean throw. After the smallest children 
have retired, the other members of the family 
will enjoy games of a mental order. 

A good one is called "The Music Lesson." On 
a table arrange the following articles, let each 
be numbered, and on prepared cards let the 
guessers write what musical term each article 
represents: A doorkey (key), a clock (time), 
a tape-measure (measure), a knife (sharp), a 
low, broad-brimmed straw hat (flat), a natural 
flower (natural), an autograph (signature), a 
few fish-scales (scales), six beets in a wooden 
measure (six beats to a measure), a bow of rib- 
bon (tie), a promissory note (note), a card on 
which is written "To Sell" (pedal), a cane 
(staff), forty beans or buttons (forte), picture 
of cat's paws (pause), a wooden or iron bracket 
(bracket), the lower part of a broken vase 
(bass), a bit of string (chord), bar of soap 
;(bar). 

[204] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

Another good game is the guessing of book 
titles. Cards for this game may be bought, but 
better ones may be made with little trouble or ex- 
pense. On a blank card paste a picture of Na- 
poleon. This represents "A Gentleman of 
France." The letter B in red ink is "The Scarlet 
Letter." A small figure 2 is "We Two." Pic- 
tures of Washington, Dewey, George W. Cable 
and George Eliot, all pasted on one card, repre- 
sent "The Four Georges." "Three Men in a 
Boat," "The Woman in White," "Little Women" 
and many others may be easily represented by 
pictures cut from papers or magazines. Two 
capital I's painted blue are "A Pair of Blue 
Eyes." "As," written backward is "As in a 
Looking-Glass," while the word Gnikool printed 
on a card is "Looking Backward." A glance 
through any library catalogue or publisher's list 
will supply plenty of suggestions. 

Another merry game is "Advertisements." Cut 
from the magazines popular pictorial advertise- 
ments, and carefully removing all printed words 
paste each on a card. Number the cards and let 
the guessers determine the articles advertised. 
[205] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

Similar to this is the selection of portraits of 
fairly well-known authors or other celebrities or 
public characters whose names are to be guessed. 



[206] 



IX 



A PEANUT PARTY FOR ANY DAY IN THE YEAR 

THE children who share their simple 
pleasures unselfishly with their play- 
mates are likely to grow into hospitable, 
kindly men and women. So those par- 
ents are wise who provide opportunity occasion- 
ally for amusements which may include their 
children's friends. 

There would be more of these festivities, no 
doubt, if it were not so often difficult to find a 
satisfactory entertainment for the restless young 
people. The peanut party here described is a 
simple and inexpensive idea, and is suitable for 
children of almost any age. It will be found a 
jolly way to celebrate a birthday or any such fes- 
tival. 

Write the invitations carefully on very thin 
paper, then roll or fold them into small compass, 
[207] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

and insert them in large, fine peanut-shells, 
which have been carefully cracked and emptied 
for the purpose. Tie up each shell with a gay- 
colored ribbon, to the end of which attach a small 
card bearing the address. 

When the guests have all arrived begin the fun 
with a peanut hunt. Present each one with a 
small bag made of bright-colored silk or cheese- 
cloth, and let the guests search for the peanuts, 
which have previously been hidden all over the 
house, or in such rooms as it is convenient to use 
for the purpose. 

Be sure to have plenty of peanuts, and let them 
be hidden wherever a possible lodging-place may 
be found, either obvious or obscure. 

When the hunt is over prizes may be given to 
those finding most and fewest. 

Now ask all the children to empty their bags 
of nuts into a large basket. 

This being done, let each in turn take a hand- 
ful, the prizes being given to the boy and girl who 
gather the greatest number, using one hand only, 
and breaking no shells. 

Next let each one guess as to the number of 
[208] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

peanuts which are left in the basket ; a prize be- 
ing given to the guesser who is nearest right. As 
many prizes are required for this frolic, it is well 
to have them very inexpensive; the fun lies in 
taking the prize, and not in the value of it. 

Now let each child be provided with a saucer 
containing seven peanuts. At the word from the 
director of the game let each begin to shell the 
nuts, the one who finishes first being awarded the 
prize. The nuts must be shelled, the inner husk 
removed and no kernels broken to constitute a 
perfect shelling. 

Seat the children round a table, on which is a 
pile of peanuts. Let them play a game similar 
to jackstraws, by taking from the pile as many 
peanuts as they can without moving any peanut 
other than the one they touch. As soon as a 
player disturbs in the least degree any peanut 
except the one he is engaged in removing he loses 
his play. 

Prizes, of course, go to those who secure the 
greatest number, and as the first peanuts re- 
moved are often the easiest, it is well to let a 
child begin the game who has not yet won as 
[209] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

many prizes as his fellows. If preferred, the 
peanuts may be removed with sugar-tongs in- 
stead of fingers. 

A peanut race is played by placing a chair at 
each end of the room and six pairs of peanuts on 
the floor at equal distances apart, so that the two 
rows reach from chair to chair. 

Provide two contestants with the smallest 
after-dinner coffee spoons you can find, and bid- 
ding them start at opposite chairs, let each pick 
up one of the peanuts in the pair nearest to him, 
and carry it in his spoon back to his chair. He 
must then take the next in the same way, and so 
on until all have been carried separately. He 
who first succeeds in doing this wins a prize. 

Peanut pitch is played on a board about two 
by three feet in size, marked by straight lines 
into about a dozen divisions of different sizes. 
Mark the smaller spaces with large numbers, and 
the larger spaces with small numbers, and let 
each player pitch an equal number of peanuts at 
the board. The numbers on which his peanuts 
fall, when added together, represent his score. 

A peanut well is a large vase which has a small 
[210] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

neck, or as a substitute a large bowl may be cov- 
ered with a wooden or pasteboard cover in which, 
is a round hole about three inches in diameter. 

The game consists of dropping peanuts into 
the hole, the nuts in each case being held be- 
tween the player's thumb and forefinger, his arm 
being straight out from his shoulder. 

Peanut pin is a stake or nail driven into the 
floor, with several circles chalked round it. Pea- 
nuts are thrown at the stake, and a nut falling in 
each circle counts less as it is farther from the 
pin. 

For peanut-walking, two rows of peanuts, 
about six inches apart, are laid across the room. 
Each player endeavors to walk this narrow path 
without stepping on a peanut. 

If more rollicking games are desired, a blind 
peanut hunt may be played by having the hunt- 
ers blindfolded, and the nuts laid about on tables 
and chairs. 

Peanut bag is the same as bean bag, only the 
bags are of cheese-cloth and filled with peanuts. 
Captains may choose sides, and many variations 
of this game may be played. 
[211] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

Another exciting game is an auction. Have 
ready a quantity of small parcels, containing 
mere trifles, such as an apple, an orange, a stick 
of candy, a tiny doll, a soap-bubble pipe or a 
lead-pencil, but have them wrapped so as to give 
no hint of what they are. 

Let a merry-minded grown person act as auc- 
tioneer, and sell the parcels to the highest bid- 
ders, the payment, of course, to be made in pea- 
nuts. 

A quiet game is a guessing contest. Let the 
leader put the following questions for the chil- 
dren to answer : 

What nut is a sandy shore? (Beechnut.) 
The color of some eyes? (Hazelnut.) A stone 
fence? (Walnut.) A large strong box? (Chest- 
nut.) A South American country? (Brazil- 
nut). These may be easily supplemented, and 
the list wound up with what nut begins with D? 
(Doughnut.) 

The birthday feast must be adorned with pea- 
nuts in every possible way. The cake may have 
its regulation candles, each standing in a peanut- 
shell. 

[ 212 ] 



RAINYi DAY DIVERSIONS 

Initials of the guests, formed of peanuts, may 
mark their places at table. 

Peanut sandwiches are delicious, and peanut 
cake and ice-cream may be made. Salted pea- 
nuts, chocolate peanuts, peanut brittle and taffy 
are appropriate, and peanut dolls are pretty 
favors. 

The paper caps that come in cracker mottoes 
may be extracted beforehand, and decorated 
round their edges with peanuts, which will hang 
on tightly if slightly pressed open at the stem 
end and clinched to the paper. 

Each guest should be allowed to take home 
with him the bag which was presented to him on 
his arrival, and containing the peanuts he has 
gathered or won in the games. 



[213] 



PAET THBEE 
CHILDEEN'S PLAYS 



[215] 



THE DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS 
CHARACTERS 

Tommy, Susie, Jennie, Willie and others, 

pupils : Ordinary school dress. 
Santa Claus: Furred robe, peaked cap. 
Miss Smith, Teacher : Ordinary dress. 
Flora, (goddess of Botany : White robe, trimmed 

with garlands of flowers. 
Father Time : Classic robe. Long white beard 

and forelock. Scythe and hour-glass. 
Aurora Borealis: Robe of rainbow colors, 

decked with gilt stars. Crescent moon in her 

hair. She carries a chart or map of the polar 

regions. 
Man in Moon: Grotesque costume of white, 

with a mask made like a full moon. 
Diana: Short kilt costume of hunter's green, 

with deerskin draped over one shoulder. She 

carries bow and arrow. 
Euclid: College gown and mortar-board. He 
[217] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

carries geometrical instruments and wears 
spectacles. 

Jack Frost: A chubby, red-cheeked boy, 
dressed in white and white fur, with frost rep- 
resented by silver powder or tinsel and tufts 
of cottonwool to look like snow. 

Hygeia : Garb of a trained nurse. She carries 
bottles of physic, a hot-water bag, spoons and 
glass, etc. 

Jack op All Trades: Dress like a carpenter's, 
with apron and paper cap. He carries tools or 
implements of any sort, also a snow-shovel. 

Spirit of Christmas: Lovely girl, with long, 
light hair. White robe, crown of stars, and 
wings if possible. She should carry a gilt 
pasteboard harp, or a long, slender trumpet. 

Lord of Misrule: Dress like a Court Jester. 
He carries a jester's bauble, or any tinkling 
toys. He must frolic and romp about contin- 
ually. 

Scene : A schoolroom. Class in geography. 



Miss Smith : 

Children, behave, you must be quiet ! 
[218] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

You know that if you break the rule, 

And keep up such a noise and riot, 
I shall detain you after school. 

Tommy : 

Yes, but, Miss Smith, to-morrow's Christmas! 

We're going to have plum pudding — ^and 

Miss Smith : 

That will do. Tommy ! What's an isthmus? 

Tommy : A narrow neck of waterland. 

Miss Smith : 

Wrong; go down foot! Next child may an- 
swer. 

Willie {raising his hand) : 

Please, teacher, may I get a drink? 

Miss Smith : 

No ! Do your problems, if you can, sir. 

Susie (raising her hand) : 

Miss Smith, Tom's gone and took my ink ! 

Miss Smith : 

Children, you should be sweet and loving, 
And treat each other courteously. 

Jennie 

Teacher, can't Willie Green stop shoving? 
He's torn my apron ! Only see ! 
[219] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

Miss Smith (exasperated) : 
I'll punish every single scholar ! 

Oh, dear, why do you act this way? 
Tommy : 
Honest, Miss Smith, IVe got to holler, 

Because to-morrow's Christmas Day! 
All the Pupils {jumping around and pounding 

on their desks) : 
Horray, Hooray, 
For Christmas Day. 
Of course we have to act this way. 



{In the midst of the general pandemonium enter 

Santa Claus.) 
Santa Claus : 

Well, well, what's all this noise and rout? 
What's all this hue and cry about? 
I've just stopped in to mate a call ; 
A Merry Christmas to you all ! 

Chorus op Children {Air, '^Maryland, My 

Maryland'^) : 
This is the man of whom we've heard, 

Santa Claus, our Santa Claus ; 
[220] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

His name our dearest household word, 

Santa Claus, our Santa Claus. 
Behold his cap and coat befurred, 
Which he about him close did gird, 
As swift his reindeer on he spurred, 

Santa Claus, our Santa Claus. 

We welcome you with joy sincere, 

Santa Claus, our Santa Claus; 
We're very glad to see you here, 

Santa Claus, our Santa Claus. 
Because we know, when you appear 
At this best time of all the year, 
You bring all sorts of Christmas cheer, 

Santa Claus, our Santa Claus. 

Santa Claus^: 
My children, dear, 

I thank you for your welcome hearty; 
What have we here? 

Is this, forsooth, a Christmas party? 
Tommy : 

No, Santa Claus, alas, alas, 
'Tis but our daily lesson class. 
[ 221 ] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

Santa Claus {looking around) : 

Oh, ho, I see, it is a school — 

Well, you've no wish to be a fool? 

Susie : 

No, no; not that; but just to-day. 

Instead of tasks we'd rather play. 

Miss Smith : But, Santa Claus, of course — you 

see 

Santa Claus : 

Of course I do — leave all to me, 

My dear Miss Smith. I think it best 

That you should just go home and rest. 

Pray take your bonnet from the shelf, 

To-day I'll teach this school myself ! 

Pupils : Good-by, Miss Smith ! 

Miss Smith: Good-by! 

Santa Claus : Good-by — 

To your seats, children ; come, be spry ! 

What lesson's next? H'm let me see 



Tommy : Please, sir, the class in botany. 
Santa Claus : 

Botany, eh? Well, I'll admit 
I can't teach botany a bit. 
[222] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

But I'll call some one to my aid ; 
Ho! Goddess Flora! Lovely maid! 



[Enter Flora, 

Flora : You called me. Am I wanted here? 

Santa Claus : 

Well, yes, I think you are, my dear. 

Botany I don't understand. 

And if you'd kindly lend a hand 

Flora: And teach it for you? Yes, indeed! 
Attention, children ! pay good heed ; 
You'll find it no unpleasant task 
To answer questions that / ask. 
What are your most important trees? 
Tommy : Elm 
Susie : Maple, 
Jennie : Walnut. 
Flora : None of these; 
Santa Claus, you may answer, sir. 
Santa Claus : 

Well, I say hemlock, spruce and fir. 
Flora : 

That's right, for hemlock, fir and spruce 
As Christmas trees are put to use. 
[ 223 ] 



RAINY. DAY DIVERSIONS 

Now, children, at this season merrj, 

iWhat is the most important berry? 

Tommy: The holly, I am sure! 

Susie : (.coyly) : No, no, 

/ think it is the mistletoe. 

Flora : 

Both are correct. On Christmas night 

We want the holly and mistletoe white. 

Now sing together, each lad and lass, 

What you have learned in the botany class. 

Chorus: (Air, ^^Battle-Cry of Freedom'^) : 

Of all the trees that grow, boys, for ornament 
or use, 

The best are those that we can use for Christ- 
mas; 

And these, as we have learned, are the hemlock, 
fir and spruce. 

Because they make Christmas trees for Christ- 
mas. 

Hurrah, then, for Christmas, 
Hurrah, boys, hurrah ! 

Up with the Christmas tree and up with the star. 
And we'll rally round the tree, boys. 
Rally once again, 

[ 224 ] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

Shouting, Hurrah, Hurrah, for Christmas ! 
Santa Claus : 

Well, well! that's fine! It does my old heart 
good 

To hear you sing that song 

With voices loud and strong. 
Flora, we thank you. Now, my dears, let's see 
What the next lesson on the list may be. 
Tommy : The next is history. 
Susie : And how I hate 

To learn about a battle and its date ! 
Jennie : I think so, too. History is a bore. 
Tommy : 

Who cares what happened in the days of yore? 
Santa Claus : 

Wait, see who teaches you this afternoon, 
And then perhaps you'll sing a different tune. 
Appear, oh, wondrous man; appear, I say! 
Maker of history from its earliest day, 
Maker of days and years; Old Father Time, 
Appear ! while Christmas bells in gladness chime. 

[Peal of hells, and enter Father Time. 
Father Time: Solo {Air, ^^Nellie Bly.")\ 
[ 225 ] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

Ho, little ones, ho, little ones, 

Be merry, glad and gay, 
For Father Time is bringing you 

Another Christmas Day. 

Chorus: Oh, Father Time, oh. Father Time, 

We're merry, glad and gay, 
Because you now are bringing us 

Another Christmas Day. 

Santa Claus : 

But, Father Time, songs will not do,/ 

A history lesson we ask from you. 

Father Time : 

Oh, history only dullness brings. 

And dates are very stupid things; 

The day before Christmas who would care 

What battle was fought, or when, or where? 

Tommy: Not I! 
Susie : Nor I ! 

Father Time: Ha, I spoke true; 
Then here's all the lesson I'll teach to you. 
I'll give you just one date to remember, 
And that's — the 25th of December! 
[ 226 ] 



RAINY. DAY DIVERSIONS 

Pupils : 

Hurrah, hurrah, we'll only remember 

To-morrow's the 25th of December. 

Santa Claus : What class is next? 

Tommy : Geography. 

Santa Glaus : 

Well, just one region interests me, 

And that's my home. Do you know where 

I live? 
Pupils: The North Pole! 
Santa Glaus : I declare 
The youngsters do know. Well, I'll call 
Some one to tell you of it all. 
Hither, Aurora Borealis, 
And tell these children of my palace. 



[Enter Aurora Borealis. 

Aurora Borealis: Solo (Air^ ^^ Believe me, if 

all those endearing young charms J') 
Believe me, my children, the world cannot show 

A more wonderful, beautiful sight 
Than Santa Glaus' palace of ice and snow, 

With frost-crystals sparkling and bright. 
[227] 



KAINYi DAY DIVERSIONS 

It is at tke North Pole, where the icebergs 
abound, 

And where Polar bears merrily roam; 
Where contentment and happiness always are 
found, 

For Santa Glaus loves his old home. 
To reach the North Pole you must bravely set 
forth 

In a staunch and a seaworthy yacht, 
And sail up to latitude ninety, due north, 

And then you'll be right at the spot. 
The palace you'll know as soon as you see 

Its beautiful ice-covered dome; 
Then walk boldly in, for you'll certainly be 

Right welcome to Santa Clans' home. 
Santa Glaus : 

Aurora Borealis, you are right ; 
I thank you for your song, my Northern Light. 
The hours fly fast, it seems to me. 
Next lesson, class? 
Pupil : Astronomy. 
Santa Glaus : 

Astronomy? Well, this afternoon 
That shall be taught by "The Man in the Moon." 
[228] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

[Enter The Man in the Moon. 

The Man in the Moon: Solo {Air^ ^^ Tenting 

To-night on the Old Camp Ground") 
Oh, I am the Man in the Moon, my dears ; 

I'll tell you of a star 
That has shone through nineteen hundred years, 

From Eastern skies afar. 
It's shining to-day for each of you, 

Telling of the Savior's birth ; 
Telling this message, sweet and true. 

Peace and good-will to earth. 
Choeus : Peace and good- will, 
Peace and good-will, 
Peace and good-will to earth. {Repeat pp.) 
Santa Claus : 

Natural history next? Let's see — 
Who could the teacher of that class be? 
Oh, yes; Diana, tall and straight, 
Will teach that class right up to date. 
What, ho! Diana! 



[Enter Diana. 
Diana : 
Here I come! 

[229] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

Leave it to me; I'll make things hum. 
The natural history class. Just so. 
Now I'll find out, my children small, 
If you know anything at all. 
What birds are of the greatest use? 
Tommy : The turkey ! 
Susie : And the duck ! 
Willie : And goose ! 
Santa Claus: 

Well, I declare ! You children know 
Enough of natural history. So 
I'll give you now a harder task ; 
Euclid, perplexing questions ask. 
[Enter Euclid : 
Euclid : 

Oh, children, don't be scared at me; 
I'll show you that geometry 
Is just as easy as can be. 
One problem only I'll show you, 
It's such a simple one to do ; 
You'll see that what I say is true. 
[Draws on hlacJchoard. 
Now, here's a circle; it's a pie. 
The problem is, can you or I 
[ 230 ] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

Inscribe triangles in it? Try! 

Tommy : I do not know — perhaps I can 

Euclid : Come up and try, my little man. 

[Tommy goes to hlacTchoard and draws six tri- 
angles in the circle, making it like a pie cut 
into six pieces, 

Euclid: 

Well, done, my boy, go to your seat, 

Your demonstration is complete. 

Of Christmas pies, or even tarts, 

Triangles are component parts. 

Santa Claus : 

Natural science next. Ho! ho! 

Jack Frost ! pray tell us what you know. 

[Enter Jack Frost^ blowing his fingers. 

Jack Frost: What I know 
Soon may be told ; 

Ice and snow 
Make people cold ! 

Santa Claus : 

My dear Jack Frost, you quite astound 

Us with your knowledge so profound. 

Now, for our physiology, 

Hygeia shall the teacher be. 
[ 231 ] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

[Enter Hygeia. 

Hygeia: Solo { Air ^ ^^ Oh y promise me/^) 

Oh, promise me, my dears, that you will try 

Not to indulge in too much Christmas pie; 

And promise, too — I ask it for your sakes — 

Not to devour too many Christmas cakes ; 

For these, with raisins, figs and nuts combined. 

Are very apt to make you ill, you'll find ; 

And so I beg that you will careful be — 

Oh, promise me — oh, promise me. 

Santa Claus : 

Goddess of Health, we thank you ; children, pray 

Remember what you've heard Hygeia say. 

Tommy : We will ; but, Santa Claus, I do love 

pie! 
Susie : And nuts ! 
Willie : And figs ! 
Jennie : And raisins ! 
Tommy : So do I ! 
Santa Claus : 

Now, let me see; school-time is nearly past; 
But there's one thing I've left until the last; 
I don't suppose you know, dear little hearts, 
Anything of what's called "industrial arts"? 
[232] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

Pupils : We don't, indeed ! 

Santa Claus: 

Well, I'll make good that lack 

In just a moment. Hey, come hither, Jack ! 



[Enter Jack of All Trades. 
Jack : You called me, Santa? 
Santa Claus: Yes, I did, my boy; 
These children, I am sure, would well enjoy 
Hearing you tell them now, before they leave. 
How to hang stockings up on Christmas Eve. 
Jack of All Trades : 

W^ell, first of all, the stocking, children, mind, 
Must be the very largest you can find. 
If yours are small just try to borrow one 
From Auntie or from Grandmamma. This done. 
Fasten it firmly with a bit of string 
Where Santa Claus will see it the first thing! 
For when he enters in a darkened room 
It's hard to find a stocking in the gloom. 
So fasten it up strong and firm and tight. 
And where he'll find it easily to-night. 
[ 233 ] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

Santa Claus : 

That's good advice, for oft IVe looked around 

An hour, before the stockings I have found, 

Now, children, it is growing late, you know : 

I must dismiss you. Do you want to go? 

Tommy : No, please, sir. 

Susie : Won't you teach us something more? 

Jennie : Mother said I need not get home till 

four, 
Santa Claus: 

Then one more gentle, loving friend I'll call 
To teach a Christmas lesson to you all. 
Spirit of Christmas, come! These children tell 
How to keep Christmas happily and well. 
[Enter Spirit of Christmas. 
Spirit OF Christmas: Solo {Air/^Star-Spangled 

Banner/') 
Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light 

The Spirit of Christmas exultingly glowing? 
Sad cares disappear like the mists of the night. 

And a glad, shining face everybody is showing. 
Chorus : And the Christmas bells ring, 
And the carols we sing. 
And gifts to each other the loving ones bring. 
[234] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

Oh, the spirit of Christmas shall linger and stay 
In the hearts of the children forever and aye. 

J^All repeat chorus.) 
Santa Claus : 

Now, children, dear, no more time can I waste. 
For I have much to do. I must make haste. 



[Enter boisterously the Lord of Misrule. 
Lord of Misrule : 

No place, indeed? I'll make a place ! 
Behold each merry, laughing face ! 
Say, children, shall I stay or go? 
Come, answer yes, or answer no. 
Pupils : Yes, yes ! do stay ! 
Tommy : Or, better still. 
Come play with us on yonder hill. 
Susie : We'll coast ! 
Willie ; And slide ! 
Tommy : And snowball, too. 
Jennie : I'm sure it would be fun to you. 
Lord of Misrule: 

I'm sure it would ! Come on, my dears, 
Jack Frost and I will tweak your ears; 
[235] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

.We'll send you spinning down the hill 

And draw you up again, until 

You're tired of that ; then, if you please, 

Jack of all Trades can build with ease 

A monstrous snow-man, ten feet high. 

Tommy : Oh, I'd like that ! 

Willie : And I ! 

Susie: And I! 

Santa Claus : 

Then, children, run along and play; 

Lessons are over for to-day. 

But ere you vanish from my sight 

All : Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good- 
night! 



[236] 



II 



SUBSTITUTE FOR SANTA CLAUS 

Time : Christmas Eve. 

Scene : Father Time's ofl&ce. It is furnished 
with desks, tables, globes, astronomical instru- 
ments, etc. On the wall are maps and charts of 
earth and sky, clocks, barometers, calendars, etc. 

CHAEACTEES 

Fathee Time : An old man dressed as he is 
often represented in pictures. His hour-glass 
and scythe are in full view. 

Santa Claus: A jolly old man, with white 
hair and beard, wearing a fur-trimmed dressing- 
gown and picturesque, tasseled nightcap. 

St. Valentine : An old man dressed in flow- 
ing white robes, decorated with red-and-gold 
[237] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

hearts and darts. He carries a bag of valentines 
and a huge quill-feather pen. 

Jack Frost : A boy attired in white, glisten- 
ing with diamond-dust or tinsel, and sprinkled 
with bits of cottonwool which represent snow. 

Spring : A young girl dressed in pale green, 
with waving golden hair, wreathed with flowers. 
She carries a garland of blossoms. 

Fourth of July : A jolly little boy dressed 
in red, white and blue, and carrying a drum, 
trumpet and flag. (Or this character may be a 
young girl dressed as the "Goddess of Liberty''). 

New- Year: A small child, dressed in white, 
with the figures in gold, conspicuously displayed. 

April Fool: A boy or young man wearing 
the garb of a court jester; doublet, cap and bells, 
etc. He carries a bauble. 

Father Time (Yawning as he awakes from a 
nap) : 
Well, I declare, it's growing late — 
It's twenty minutes after eight. 
And Santa Clans is not here yet ! 
I wonder if he could forget 
[238] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

That he must go on earth to-night. 
'Twould leave me in a sorry plight 
If he should fail the girls and boys 
.Whose empty stockings wait for toys. 

[A knock is heard] 
Ah, there he is! Come in, I pray; 
Explain the cause of your delay ! 

[Enter Santa Claus, pushed by an attendant in 
a wheeled chair. His foot is swathed in great 
bandages] 

Santa Claus : 

Oh, Father Time, alack, alack! 

I have a sudden, bad attack 

Of gout. And I can't make to-night 

My trip to earth. Oh, what a plight ! 

I'm in such pain! Oh, ouch! Oh, oo! 

What shall we do? What shall we do? 

Father Time : 

Dear Santa Claus, alas, alas! 
I've feared that this might come to pass ; 
For you and I are growing old. 
And cannot stand the frost and cold; 
But one thing's certain : I must send 
Somebody in your place, my friend, 
[239] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

Santa Claus : 

Yes, do send some one, saint or elf ; 

But stay — why can't you go yourself? 
Father Time : 

Oh, I can't go ! This is, you see, 

The busiest time of year for me. 

I have to look up dates and days 

And start the seasons on their ways. 

But minutes fly ! 'Tis almost nine — 

I'll try to get St. Valentine. 

[Calls on telephone] 

Hello, St. Valentine, hello ! 

I'm Father Time. Say, can't you go 

To earth to-night? Stockings to fill 

In place of Santa Claus, who's ill 

With an acute attack of gout; 

And, as you know, you're just about 

His size and shape ; so none will know 

The difference. Oh, please do go ! 

What? You'll come over? All right, fly! 

Because it's getting late. Good-by. 

[Hangs up receiver] 
[To Santa Claus:] 

St. Valentine will be just right 
[240] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

To play your part on earth to-night. 

If you'll lend him your cap and coat 

No one the difference will note. 
Santa Glaus : 

Of course they won't ! They're not awake 

When I my round of visits make. 

And not a person ever sees 

Me decorate the Christmas-trees. 

[Knock is heard] 
Father Time : 

Come in, St. Valentine ; we need 

Your services, we do, indeed ! 

[Enter St. Valentine] 
St. Valentine: 

Good-evening, Father Time. I'm here. 

You called me. Santa Glaus, what cheer? 
Santa Glaus : 

Small cheer indeed ! Small cause for miith. 

I cannot make my trip to earth; 

I've such a bad attack of gout 

I cannot think of going out. 
Father Time : 

And so, if you will have the grace 

To go in Santa Claus's place 

[241] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

St. Valentine: 

Oh, dear, oh dear ! I'd gladly go ; 

But really. Father Time, you know 

I'm so busy writing lines 

And verses for my valentines 

And it's so hard to make them rhyme, 

I simply cannot take the time 

To do a bit of outside work 

Unless my own I seem to shirk. 
Santa Claus : 

Yes, yes, St. Valentine, I know 

You are too busy now to go. 
Santa Claus: 

But something must be done ! Oh, dear ! 

I was so well and strong last year ! 

'Twas such a merry Christmas Eve ! 

In every home my gifts I'd leave — 

But come, come. Time ; don't sit there mute ! 

We'll have to find a substitute. 
Father Time : 

Ah, that's more easily said than done. 

I cannot think of anyone. 
[The door bursts open and Jack Frost comes 
running in] 

[242] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

Jack Frost : 

Heyday ! What ho ! My friends, good cheer ! 

You seem to be in trouble here. 
Father Time: 

We are. 
Jack Frost : 

Well, can't 1 help you out? 

What ails you, Santa Claus? 
Santa Claus : 

The gout. 

And I can't go to earth to-night. 
Jack Frost : 

I'll go for you. 
Father Time : 

Nay, gentle sprite. 

You're willing, I've no doubt ; but still 

I do not think you'd fill the bill. 
Jack Frost : 

Oh, yes, I can ! Pray let me go. 

This pure- white robe of frost and snow 

Will look like Santa's furry coat — 

I'm sure the difference none will note. 

And while the children are asleep 

Down chimneys I will softly creep. 
[243 1 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

Santa Glaus : 

Perhaps it might do* 

Father Time : 
No, sir-ee! 

It wouldn't do at all ! You see 
If down a chimney Jack should climb 
He'd melt away in just no time. 

St. Valentine: 

If through a window he made way 
The room he'd chill, till, I daresay, 
The little ones with cold would shake, 
And very likely they would wake. 

Jack Frost : 

But, Time, I want to go so much ! 

Father Time : 

T know it. But your feosty touch 
Would spoil the gifts. The fruits so nice 
Would turn to little lumps of ice. 

Santa Claus : 

Well, Father Time, it seems to me 
That Spring a substitute might be. 
She's young and clever, and I think 
The little ones she might hoodwink. 
If they should waken from a nap, 
[244] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

And see her in my coat and cap 

They'd think, of course, that it was L 
St. Valentine: 

At any rate, I'd let her try. 
Father Time (Calling) : 

What, ho, without ! Come, Spring, I say ! 

We want you. Quickly come, I pray. 

[Enter Spring] 
Spring (petulantly) : 

Oh, Father Time, why did you call? 

You spoiled a lovely game of ball ! 

I made a cowslip ball, you see. 

The May Queen brought the flowers to me, 

And we were just about to play. 

Why did you call me, anyway? 
Father Time : 

Tut, tut, my child ! Don't be so cross. 

I'm sure you'll not regret your loss 

When you hear what we've planned for you. 

You're to be Santa Claus. 
Spring : 

Pooh-pooh ! 

I couldn't think of doing that! 

I am not old, white-haired or fat. 
[245] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

St. Valentine : 

But you can wear nis cap and wig. 
Santa Claus : 

And make yourself look old and big. 
Jack Frost: 

Oh, Spring, it will be lots of fun. 

I wish I could have been the one ! 
Spring : 

I wish you could, for I won't go ! 

I love old Santa Claus, you know. 
Santa Claus : 

I'm sure you do, my gentle Spring. 
Spring : But I can't do that sort of thing. 
[Fourth of July comes bounding in, blowing a 

trumpet] 
Fourth of July : 

Hooray, hooray ! I'll go ! Send me! 

I'll decorate a Christmas-tree ! 

I'll fill the stockings, and I'll blow 

A stirring blast where'er I go ! 

[Blows trumpet] 
Father Time : 

Be quiet, boy ! 'Twould never do 

To send out such a scamp as you. 
[ 246 ] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

Fourth of July : 

Oh, Father Time, the girls and boys 
Will like my racket and my noise — 
The celebration I will make. 

Santa Glaus : 

Fourth of July, for goodness sake, 
Be still a minute ! Let me think. 

Fourth of July : 

Dear Santa Claus, quick as a wink 
I'll fly to earth. Please let me go — 
I'm most as big as you, you know. 

[Fourth of July struts proudly about. Enter 
New- Year. He climbs upon Santa Clauses 
knee] 

New- Year : 

Please, Mister Santa, I'm your man. 
I want to help you if I tan. 
I am not very bid, I know ; 
But if you'll let me, I will do. 

Santa Claus : 

Why, Baby, you're too small, I fear. 
You couldn't drive eight big reindeer ! 
[247] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

New- Year : 

Oh, yes, I tould. "Do long !" I'd say, 
An nen I dess dey'd trot away. 

Father Time : 

I guess they would. But Sir New- Year, 
You've got to go next week, my dear. 
Then horns will blow and bells will ring ; 
But for the present take him, Spring. 
[Spring takes little New- Year in her arms] 

Father Time : 

I'm at my wits' end ! Hear me now — 
I'll make and I will keep this vow: 
Whoever next here shows his face 
Shall go in Santa Claus's place! 
Whoever next comes in the door 
Shall go at once ! I'll wait no more. 

Santa Claus : 

And I'll stand by you. Though it be 
One who ne'er saw a Christmas-tree. 

[Jingling bells are heard, and April Fool comes 
dancing in] 

April Fool : 

Heyday! Good luck, my masters all! 
I've come to make a social call. 
[248] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

Father Time : 

Have you indeed? Well, you'll soon find 
That you will have to change your mind, 

April Fool: 

I don't mind that My mind's so poor 
I'd change with anyone, I'm sure. 

Santa Clause 

Now, do be serious. Fool, dear* 

I can't go on my trip this year. 
Father Time : 

His foot's so swelled, he cannot budge. 
April Fools 

Foot? It's an acher, I should judge! 
St. Valentine : 

Be quiet, Fool ! So you must go 

To earth to-night. 
April Fool: 

Oh-ho! Oh-ho! 

I'll gOo I'm glad to get the chance. 

I'll lead those little ones a dance! 
Santa Claus : 

No, April Fool you must be good, 

And do exactly as you should. 
[249] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

You'll wear my furrj cap and cloak, 

A long white beard 

April Fool: Oh, what a joke! 
Father Time: 

No, Fool, it is no joke at all. 

At every house you'll have to call. 

Fill up the stockings, trim the trees. 
Santa Claus : 

And do it properly. Fool, please ! 
April Fool: 

My nature is a foolish one — 

I have to have my jokes and fun. 
Father Time : 

Come, come, get ready, April Fool ! 

It's no joke to be Lord of Yula 
[Father Time and St Valentine bring Santa 
Claus's furred coat and cap and put them on 
April Fool ; also a long white beard, false face 
and other disguises] 
April Fool (aside to Spring) : 

Oh, Spring, what lots of fun 'twill be 

To have a Christmas ruled by me! 

I'll mix up all the children's toys ; 

Give drums to girls, and dolls to boys; 
[250] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

I'll give the young men parasols ; 

And to the old men black-lace shawls ; 

The ladies shall have jumping- jacks; 

And babies packs of carpet-tacks ; 

And every candy, fruit, or sweet 

Shall be the kind they cannot eat — 

A sugary outside, all filled full 

Of pepper, wood, or cottonwool ! 

He-he ! Ho-ho ! What fun 'twill be ! 

They'll think I'm Santa Claus, you see. 
Spring : Oh, April Fool, I think that's mean ! 
April Fool : 

But you don't know, Spring; you're so green. 
Spring : 

Maybe I am. But those bad pranks 

Would get from Santa Claus no thanks. 
April Fool : 

Oh, I think Santa understands ; 

He's put the matter in my hands — 

And so, of course, he'll have to take 

The sort of Christmas that I make. 
[Meantime Santa Claus has risen from his chair 
and is bustling about. He takes the coat and 
cap from April Fool] 

[251] 



rainy; day; diversions 

Santa Claus : 

No use. No use ! I can't stay here. 

I must dispense that Christmas cheer. 

I must attend to it myself ; 

I can't be laid upon the shelf. 

My foot is better, and I know 

'Twill soon be well. I've got to go ! 
Father Time: 

Good for you, Santa ! Go, my friend. 

I really couldn't bear to send 

Another in your place. 
St. Valentine : Nor I ! 
Spring : I'll help you, Santa Glaus. 
Jack Frost : 

Now fly ! 

It's getting late. 

[Exit Santa Claus] 
April Fool (appearing rather crestfallen) : 

I want to go ! 
Jack Frost : I too, but then we can't you know. 
April Fool : 

Perhaps they thought I'd play some jokes 

Upon the Merry Christmas folks. 
[252] 



RAINY DAY DIVERSIONS 

Jack Frost : 

They thought I was too young and cold : 

Perhaps I'll go when I get old. 
Jack Frost and April Fool (together) : 

Let's try to be real nice and good, 

And do exactly as we should. 

And then we may grow up to be 

Two Santa Clauses — you and me! 



THE END. 



[253] 



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